ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013

or

¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 1-15103

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INVACARE CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio

95-2680965

(State or other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

One Invacare Way, P.O. Box 4028, Elyria, Ohio 44036

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (440) 329-6000

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Name of exchange on which registered

Common Shares, without par value

Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, without par value

New York Stock Exchange

New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined by Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No ý

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No ý

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such short period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated filer ¨

Accelerated filer ý

Non-accelerated filer ¨

Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No ý

As of June 30, 2013, the aggregate market value of the 28,294,708 Common Shares of the Registrant held by non-affiliates was $406,312,007 and the aggregate market value of the 4,573 Class B Common Shares of the Registrant held by non-affiliates was $65,668. While the Class B Common Shares are not listed for public trading on any exchange or market system, shares of that class are convertible into Common Shares at any time on a share-for-share basis. The market values indicated were calculated based upon the last sale price of the Common Shares as reported by The New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2013, which was $14.36. For purposes of this information, the 2,623,984 Common Shares and 1,080,174 Class B Common Shares which were held by Executive Officers and Directors of the Registrant were deemed to be the Common Shares and Class B Common Shares held by affiliates.

As of February 25, 2014, 30,930,232 Common Shares and 1,084,747 Class B Common Shares were outstanding.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) of this report.

Except as otherwise stated, the information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is as of December 31, 2013.

Invacare Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor in its estimated $4.0 billion core global and geographic markets for medical equipment used in the home and long-term care settings based upon its distribution channels, breadth of product line and net sales. The Company designs, manufactures and distributes an extensive line of health care products for the non-acute care environment, including the home health care and extended care markets. The Company revises and expands its product lines to meet changing market demands and currently offers numerous product lines. The Company sells its products principally to home health care and medical equipment providers, distributors and government locations in the United States, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Asia. Invacare’s products are sold through its worldwide distribution network by its sales force, telesales associates and independent manufacturers’ representatives and distributors.

Invacare is committed to design and deliver the best value in medical products, which promote recovery and active lifestyles for people requiring home and other non-acute health care. Invacare pursues this vision by:

driving efficiency and innovation through the use of the Company’s global resources;

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providing a professional and cost-effective sales, customer service and distribution organization;

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supplying innovative provider support and product line extensions;

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building a strong referral base among health care professionals;

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continuously advancing and recruiting top management candidates;

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empowering all employees;

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providing a performance-based reward environment;

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pursuing excellence through ongoing improvements to its quality systems to achieve sustainable regulatory compliance; and

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continually striving for total quality throughout the organization.

The Company is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Ohio in 1971. When the Company was acquired in December 1979 by a group of investors, including some of its current officers and directors, it had $19.5 million in net sales and a limited product line of lifestyle wheelchairs and patient aids. Invacare net sales in 2013 were approximately $1.4 billion thus yielding a 13% compound average annual sales growth rate since 1979. Based upon the Company’s distribution channels, breadth of product line and net sales, Invacare is a leading company in many of the following major, non-acute, medical equipment categories: power and manual wheelchairs, homecare bed systems and home respiratory therapy.

The Company’s executive offices are located at One Invacare Way, Elyria, Ohio, 44036 and its telephone number is (440) 329-6000. In this report, “Invacare” and the “Company” refer to Invacare Corporation and, unless the context otherwise indicates, its consolidated subsidiaries.

THE HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY

North America Market

The home medical equipment (HME) market includes home health care products, physical rehabilitation products and other non-disposable products used for the recovery and long-term care of patients. As healthcare spending continues to escalate around the world, particularly in the United States, the Company believes that homecare is a significant part of the solution for healthcare reform. A New England Journal of Medicine article suggested that by 2030, the number of people in the United States over 65 is expected to exceed 70 million. With the costs of healthcare continuing to increase in a currently unsustainable healthcare

system, the Company believes it will become essential that patients are given the right care, in the right place, at the right cost. The Company believes homecare will be a key part of the solution in healthcare reform.

The Right Care: While the institutional care model likely will always be an essential part of the health care system, the Company believes it is not the best and most cost-effective environment of care for many patients, particularly those with chronic medical conditions. It appears that the steady growth in Medicare-aged patients with chronic illnesses is placing unprecedented pressure on the financial stability and sustainability of the Medicare program. The Company believes that patients prefer care and treatment provided to them in their home. Initiatives such as patient-centered medical homes and Accountable Care Organizations can align incentives for healthcare providers to partner closely across all medical specialties and settings and have the potential to significantly alter the trajectory of rising health care costs.

The Right Place: The Company believes that many medical professionals and patients prefer home health care over institutional care, when appropriate, because home health care results in greater patient independence, increased patient responsibility and improved responsiveness to treatment. An article in the New England Journal of Medicine notes that several engineering and electronics companies have developed products for monitoring health at home and that Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is experimenting with Internet video-conferencing to permit virtual visits from patients' homes. Furthermore, health care professionals, public payors and private payors appear to favor homecare as a cost-effective, clinically appropriate alternative to facility-based care.

Technological advances have made medical equipment increasingly adaptable for use in the home. It has been estimated that over 70 percent of non-surgical and non-emergent treatment and care could be effectively administered in the patient's home. Current hospital procedures often allow for earlier patient discharge, thereby lengthening recuperation periods outside of the traditional institutional setting. In addition, continuing medical advances prolong the lives of adults and children, thus increasing the demand for home medical care equipment. Undoubtedly, as health care consumers, the baby boomer population will have strong opinions and preferences about their treatment settings. Data from the AARP Public Policy Institute and a Harris Interactive poll suggest that 89 percent of people aged 50 and older want to receive medical services in their home as they age and 65 percent would prefer home care while recuperating from surgery.

The Right Cost: The Company believes that home health care and home medical equipment will play a significant role in reducing health care costs. The Agency of Healthcare Research & Quality, along with Johns Hopkins, examined extensively the benefits of Hospital at Home and those studies indicate that the Hospital at Home program results in lower length of stay, costs, readmission rates and complications than traditional inpatient care. In addition, surveys indicate higher levels of patient and family member satisfaction with homecare than with traditional care. Costs of care were 32 percent lower for Hospital at Home patients than for hospital inpatients, and ever critical readmission rates were 42 percent for Hospital at Home patients, compared with 87 percent for hospital inpatients.

Invacare believes that homecare is the trifecta of healthcare: it is patient preferred, has better clinical outcomes and is more cost-effective than institutionalized care.Homecare is expected to be an area of future growth for the medical care industry, as the unsustainable costs of institutional healthcare will force governments to move to cost-effective venues of healthcare.

Europe/Asia/Pacific Market

The Company believes that, while many of the market factors influencing demand in North America are also present in Europe and Asia/Pacific—aging of the population, growing number of patients with chronic illnesses, as well as technological trends—each of the markets of Europe and in Asia/Pacific has distinctive characteristics. The health care industry tends to be more heavily socialized and, therefore, is more influenced by regulation and fiscal policy. Variations in product specifications, regulatory approval processes, distribution requirements and reimbursement policies require the Company to tailor its approach to the local market. Management believes that as the European markets develop more common product requirements and the Company continues to refine its distribution channels, the Company can more effectively penetrate these markets with global product platforms that are localized with region-specific adjustments as necessary. Likewise, the Company expects to increase its sales in the highly fragmented Australian, New Zealand and Asian markets as these markets, and the Company’s distribution within them, develop.

Reimbursement

The Company is directly affected by government regulation and reimbursement policies in virtually every country in which the Company operates. In the United States, the growth of health care costs has increased at rates in excess of the rate of inflation and as a percentage of GDP for several decades. A number of efforts to control the federal deficit have impacted reimbursement

levels for government sponsored health care programs, and private insurance companies and state Medicaid programs often peg their reimbursement levels to Medicare.

Reimbursement guidelines in the home health care industry have a substantial impact on the nature and type of equipment an end-user can obtain and, thus, affect the product mix, pricing and payment patterns of the Company’s customers who are medical equipment providers. The Company believes its strong market position and technical expertise will allow it to respond to ongoing reimbursement changes. However, the issues described above will likely continue to have significant impacts on the pricing of the Company’s products.

GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS AND PRODUCT CATEGORIES

North America

North America includes the following segments in the United States and Canada: North America/Home Medical Equipment (North America/HME) and Institutional Products Group (IPG).

North America/HME

This segment primarily includes: Mobility and Seating, Lifestyle and Respiratory Therapy product lines as discussed below. This segment comprised 44.9%, 48.3% and 50.4% of the net sales from continuing operations in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

MOBILITY AND SEATING PRODUCTS

Power Wheelchairs. Invacare manufactures a complete line of power wheelchairs for individuals who require independent powered mobility. The range includes products that can be significantly customized to meet an individual’s specific needs, as well as products that are inherently versatile and meet a broad range of individual requirements. Center-wheel drive power wheelchair lines are marketed under the Invacare® TDX® brand name. The TDX line of power wheelchairs offers a combination of power, stability and maneuverability. Power tilt and recline seating systems are offered as well. The Pronto® series of power wheelchairs with SureStep® stability feature center-wheel drive performance.

Custom Manual Wheelchairs. Invacare manufactures and markets a range of custom manual wheelchairs for everyday, sports and recreational uses. These lightweight chairs are marketed under the Invacare® and Invacare® Top End®brand names. The chairs provide mobility for people with moderate to severe disabilities in their everyday activities as well as for use in various sports such as basketball, racing and tennis.

Personal Mobility. Invacare distributes personal mobility products, including power scooters available in three-wheel and four-wheel versions.

Seating and Positioning Products. Invacare markets seat cushions, back supports and accessories under three series: the Invacare® Seating & Positioning series provides simple seating solutions; the Invacare® Matrx® Series includes versatile modular seating; and the Invacare® PinDot® series offers custom seating solutions. The Company also markets specialty seating products, pediatric seating and wheelchairs, as well as various standers that allow people to stand who otherwise would be unable.

LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS

Manual Wheelchairs. Invacare’s manual wheelchairs are sold for use inside and outside the home, institutional settings or public places. Users include people who are chronically or temporarily disabled and require basic mobility performance with little or no frame modification. Examples of the Company’s manual wheelchair lines, which are marketed under the Invacare® brand name, include the 9000, the Tracer® and the Veranda™ wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are designed to accommodate the diverse capabilities and unique needs of the individual.

Personal Care. Invacare is principally a distributor of a full line of personal care products, including ambulatory aids such as crutches, canes, rollators, walkers, knee walkers and wheeled walkers. Also available are safety aids such as tub transfer benches, shower chairs and grab bars, and patient care products such as commodes and other toilet assist aids.

Homecare Beds. Invacare manufactures and distributes a wide variety of manual, semi-electric and fully-electric beds for home use under the Invacare® brand name. Homecare bed accessories include bedside rails, mattresses, overbed

tables and trapeze bars. Also available are bariatric beds and accompanying accessories to serve the special needs of bariatric patients.

Pressure Relieving Sleep Surfaces. Invacare distributes a complete line of therapeutic pressure relieving overlays and mattress replacement systems for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. The Invacare® Solace® and microAIR® brand names feature a broad range of pressure relieving foam mattresses or powered mattress replacements with alternating pressure, low-air-loss or rotational mattresses, which redistribute weight and assist with moisture management. These mattresses are designed to provide comfort, support and relief to those patients who are immobile or have limited mobility and spend a great deal of time in bed.

Patient Transport. Invacare manufactures and/or distributes products needed to assist in transferring individuals from surface to surface (bed to chair) or transporting from room to room. Designed for use in the home or institutional settings, these products include patient lifts and slings, and a series of mobile, multi-functional recliners.

RESPIRATORY THERAPY PRODUCTS

Non-Delivery Oxygen. Trends in the industry continue to be towards a non-delivery oxygen therapy model. The Invacare® HomeFill® Oxygen System is an ambulatory oxygen technology that forms the basis for a non-delivery model and allows patients to fill their own high-pressure cylinders from an oxygen concentrator within the home. Published industry data suggests a large portion of the costs associated with home oxygen therapy are directly associated with the delivery and delivery-related activities required to meet the ambulatory oxygen therapy needs of patients. Technology such as the Invacare® HomeFill® Oxygen System allows providers to virtually eliminate time-consuming and costly service calls associated with cylinder and/or liquid oxygen deliveries while at the same time enhancing patient care.

Rounding out Invacare’s non-delivery respiratory offerings are the Invacare® SOLO2® portable oxygen Concentrator and the Invacare® XPO2™ portable oxygen concentrator, both of which have been approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for use on board commercial jets while in flight. The SOLO2® portable concentrator offers continuous flow oxygen up to three liters per minute or pulse dose oxygen delivery in settings 1-5 and is portable and easy to operate.

Stationary Oxygen Concentrators. Invacare oxygen concentrators are manufactured under the Perfecto2™and Platinum™ brand names and are available in five and 10 liter models. All Invacare stationary concentrators are designed to provide patients with durable equipment and reliable oxygen either in the home or a healthcare setting.

OTHER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Invacare is the only company in the industry with a breadth of service offerings that includes the ability to assist providers in rental capabilities, software and technology to streamline efficiencies, repair services and replacement parts.

Institutional Products Group (IPG)

Invacare, operating as Invacare Continuing Care, Invacare Continuing Care Canada, Invacare Outcomes Management and Dynamic Medical Systems, is a manufacturer and distributor of healthcare furnishings including beds, case goods, safe patient handling equipment and negative pressure wound therapy into the long-term care markets, and certain other home medical equipment and accessory products. In addition, this segment includes rental of certain home medical equipment through providers and institutions for the North American market. This segment also provides interior design services for nursing homes and assisted living facilities involved in renovation and new construction. This segment comprised 8.3%, 8.8% and 7.1% of the net sales from continuing operations in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Asia/Pacific

The Company’s Asia/Pacific operations consist of Invacare Australia and Invacare New Zealand, which distribute a range of home medical equipment including mobility and seating, lifestyle and respiratory therapy products to homecare and long-term care markets; and Dynamic Controls, a manufacturer of electronic operating components used in power wheelchairs, scooters, respiratory and other products. This segment comprised 3.7%, 4.8% and 5.8% of the net sales from continuing operations in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The Company’s European operations operate as a “common market” with sales throughout Europe. The European segment comprised 43.1%, 38.1% and 36.7% of the net sales from continuing operations in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Most wheelchair products sold in Europe are designed locally to meet specific market requirements. The Company manufactures and/or assembles both manual and power wheelchair products at the following European facilities: Invacare UK Ltd. in the United Kingdom, Invacare Poirier S.A.S. in France, Invacare (Deutschland) GmbH in Germany and Ulrich Alber Gmbh in Germany. Manual wheelchair products are also manufactured and/or assembled at Invacare Portugal, Kuschall AG in Switzerland and Invacare Rea AB in Sweden. As part of the manufacturing footprint rationalization strategy that began in 2011, assembly of beds is now performed in Invacare Rea AB in Sweden. The Company's facility in Portugal continues to assemble beds, mainly for the Southern European markets and patient lifts for the whole of Europe. Personal care products are manufactured at Aquatec GmbH in Germany, Invacare REA Sweden manufactures Dolomite products and Invacare UK Ltd. manufactures therapeutic support surfaces products. Seating and positioning products are manufactured at Invacare UK Ltd. or imported from Invacare’s Motion Concepts in Canada. Oxygen products, such as concentrators and HomeFill® oxygen systems, are imported from Invacare U.S. or China operations.

Discontinued Operations

Invacare distributed numerous lines of branded medical supplies including ostomy, incontinence, diabetic, enteral, wound care and urology products as well as home medical equipment, including lifestyle products through Invacare Supply Group, Inc. (ISG), which was sold on January 18, 2013. Invacare manufactured and sold medical recliners for dialysis clinics through Champion Manufacturing, Inc. (Champion), a subsidiary of Invacare that was sold on August 6, 2013, See Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Discontinued Operations.

For financial information regarding reportable segments, including revenues from external customers, products, segment profitability, assets and other information by segments, see Business Segments in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

WARRANTY

Generally, the Company’s products are covered by warranties against defects in material and workmanship from the date of sale to the customer for various periods depending on the product. Certain components carry a lifetime warranty.

COMPETITION

North America and Asia/Pacific

The home medical equipment market is highly competitive and Invacare products face significant competition from other well-established manufacturers and distributors. The Company believes that its success in increasing market share is dependent on providing value to the customer based on the quality, performance and price of the Company's products, the range of products offered, the technical expertise of the sales force, the effectiveness of the Company's distribution system, the strength of the dealer and distributor network and the availability of prompt and reliable service for its products. Various competitors, from time to time, have instituted price-cutting programs in an effort to gain market share and may do so again in the future.

Europe

As a result of the differences encountered in the European marketplace, competition generally varies from one country to another. The Company typically encounters one or two strong competitors in each country, some of whom are becoming regional leaders in specific product lines.

MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

North America

In the United States, Invacare products are marketed primarily to home medical equipment (HME) providers or long-term care providers who in turn sell or rent these products directly to consumers or residents within the non-acute care settings. The Company also employs a “pull-through” marketing strategy to medical professionals, including physical and occupational therapists, who refer their patients to HME providers to obtain specific types of home medical equipment.

Invacare’s North America/HME sales and marketing organization consists primarily of a sales force which markets and sells Invacare® branded products to HME providers. Each member of Invacare’s HME sales force functions as a Territory Business Manager (TBM) and handles all product and service needs for an account, thus saving customers’ valuable time. The TBM also provides training and servicing information to providers, as well as product literature, point-of-sale materials and other advertising and merchandising aids. In Canada, products are sold by a sales force and distributed through regional distribution centers to health care providers throughout Canada.

TBMs are supported by the Inside Sales Department that provides increased sales coverage of smaller accounts. Inside sales offers cost-effective sales coverage through a targeted telesales effort. The Company's Technical Education department offers educational programs that place emphasis on improving the productivity of HME repair technicians. The Service Referral Network includes numerous providers who honor the Company's product warranties regardless of where the product was purchased. This network of servicing providers seeks to ensure that all consumers using Invacare products receive quality service and support that is consistent with the Invacare brand promise - Making Life's Experiences Possible™.

Invacare concentrated on ‘fleet management’ in its 2013 marketing efforts, with the message being that utilizing one manufacturer for a provider’s product fleet would result in a number of efficiencies and a solid foundation for their business. With National Competitive Bidding (NCB) and government reimbursement audits as significant considerations for durable medical equipment providers in the United States, Invacare urged providers to focus on fleet management. Fleet management is the controlled operation of a company’s product fleet, which can include maintenance, repairs, tracking, delivery management, financing, regulatory compliance and health and safety management. As reimbursement levels decline, one approach would be to focus on initial purchase price as a means to save costs. Invacare’s fleet management approach asks providers to consider total lifecycle costs to see that higher quality products ultimately result in greater cost savings.

Home medical equipment providers juggle a number of issues including inventory control, product maintenance, delivery and employee training. Invacare looked at ways to drive profitability without sacrificing patient care, and learned that financially strong, best in class providers purchase high quality rental fleet products. Creating a rental fleet of durable, high-quality products allows a provider to rent products longer while minimizing their costs. A longer useful life means more provider profit and allows the provider to focus more fully on providing superior patient care. Engaging in a fleet management approach improves efficiency and productivity and reduces overall costs. To help providers adopt a fleet management approach, Invacare created www.invacare.com/fleetmanagement, offering a number of tools, including blog posts, calculators and videos.

The Company markets products and services to the continuing care market through a specialized sales force, a national rentals and services organization and a team of clinical professionals who call on clinical decision makers. Products from IPG include beds and resident room furnishings, safe patient handling equipment and programs, bathing, durable medical equipment and clinical therapies, such as therapeutic support surfaces and negative pressure wound therapy. IPG sales and marketing organizations consist of field sales representatives and independent representative agencies supported by a marketing group that generates awareness and demand at skilled nursing facilities for Invacare products and services. IPG also provides interior design services for nursing homes and assisted living facilities involved with renovation and new construction.

In 2013, the Company continued its strategic advertising campaign in key business-to-business publications that reach Invacare's respective customers. The Company contributed extensively to editorial coverage in trade publications concerning the products the Company manufactures, and Company representatives attended numerous trade shows and conferences on a national and regional basis in which Invacare products were displayed to providers, health care professionals, managed care professionals and consumers. “Yes, you can.®” continues to be Invacare's global tagline and is used in Company advertisements and on the Invacare global website as it is indicative of the “can do” attitude of many of the people who use the Company's products. In everything it does, the Company strives to leave its stakeholders with its brand promise of Making Life's Experiences Possible™.

The Company also continues to improve performance and usability of www.invacare.com and its related websites. Throughout 2013, the Company increased participation in online forums and engaged consumers by utilizing social media tools, including a Facebook® page and YouTube® channel. These moves toward a more consumer-centric approach allow the Company to provide a consumer interface that better addresses consumer needs.

In addition, the Company uses the Internet to drive consumer awareness of its products. In 2013, the Company continued its focus on the Do More With Oxygen™ website, Invacare's online community targeted towards those who are affected by respiratory ailments, specifically COPD. The audience includes people with respiratory ailments, caregivers and respiratory therapists. Visitors to the site can view videos, download guides for topics like "COPD 101", read daily blog posts to learn more about traveling with COPD, learn how to live a healthy lifestyle and how to care for a loved one dealing with COPD. Invacare is taking the lead by creating an environment for those dealing with similar ailments to come together and learn more. Ultimately, the website advocates

an active lifestyle that can be achieved through use of oxygen devices such as the Invacare® HomeFill® oxygen system and the Invacare® XPO2® and Invacare® SOLO2® portable oxygen concentrators.

The Company also drives consumer awareness of its products through its sponsorship of a variety of wheelchair sporting events and support of various philanthropic causes benefiting the consumers of the Company's products. The Company continued its sponsorships of individual wheelchair athletes and teams, including several of the top-ranked male and female racers, hand cyclists and wheelchair tennis players in the world. The Company continued its support of disabled veterans through its sponsorship of the 33rd National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world. The games bring a competitive and recreational sports experience to military service veterans who use wheelchairs for their mobility needs due to spinal cord injury, neurological conditions or amputation.

Europe

The Company’s European operations consist primarily of manufacturing, marketing and distribution operations in Western Europe and export sales activities through local distributors elsewhere in the world. The Company has a sales force and, where appropriate, distribution centers in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Norway and the Netherlands, and sells through distributors elsewhere in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In markets where the Company has its own sales force, product sales are typically made through dealers of medical equipment and, in certain markets, directly to government agencies. In 2013, the continued consolidation of big buying groups tending to develop their business on a European scale has continued resulting in the application of pan-European pricing policies by the Company.

The Company has centralized its product distribution through its European Distribution Center which is focused on further optimizing logistics and increasing service levels to customers.

Invacare continues to sponsor wheelchair sporting events including European Handcycling Federation (EHF) and FIPFA (Powerchair football association) events, the Lisbon marathon as well as individual heroes and athletes with disabilities.

Asia/Pacific

The Company's Asia/Pacific segment is comprised of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea and South East Asia related to its Australia and New Zealand distribution businesses.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, Invacare Australia made a significant change to the way it markets Invacare product. Direct-to-consumer sites in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane were closed and all warehousing and distribution were consolidated into the Company's Australian headquarters in Sydney, Australia. Invacare New Zealand is a market leader for mobility and rehabilitation products in New Zealand. A significant portion of the direct sales are government funded and controlled by capped budgets. Invacare Australia and Invacare New Zealand both sell through three distribution channels:

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Mobility and Seating products are sold via a dealer network. Almost all sales are directly government funded;

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Homecare products are sold via a dealer network that sells products to the consumer market; and

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Long-Term Care products are sold directly to aged care facilities.

Invacare Australia and New Zealand have invested heavily in marketing efforts to increase demand for Invacare product in 2013. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and On Demand Marketing (ODM) as well as sales and marketing database tools have been introduced to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the sales force and the marketing efforts within Australia and New Zealand. Invacare Australia and New Zealand focused their respective sponsorship efforts around a small number of key athletes who participated in premier sporting events. Invacare also is a sponsor of the "Oz Day 10K" classic where the streets of Sydney are closed for a wheelchair race on Australia Day. Invacare is a sponsor of the Attitude Trust and is naming sponsor for the Disabled Sports Person of the Year award that is held as part of the Attitude Awards on World Disability Day in New Zealand.

Invacare China sells almost exclusively through the homecare channel via a distributor and dealer network focused in the major provinces and cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. The primary product sold is oxygen concentrators, with some minor sales in wheelchairs and bathing aids. Invacare China has established a government affairs team to capitalize on the increasing levels and localized funding of aids and equipment for the elderly and disabled. Marketing efforts are focused on supporting the dealer network to increase consumer sales. The other Asian markets are supported by dealers and distributors and Invacare supplies directly to those customers.

Dynamic Controls, the Company's subsidiary which produces electronic components for use in power wheelchairs, scooters, respiratory and other products, sells to customers in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific.

PRODUCT LIABILITY COSTS

The Company is self-insured in North America for product liability exposures through its captive insurance company, Invatection Insurance Company, which currently has a policy year that runs from September 1 to August 31 and insures annual policy losses up to $10,000,000 per occurrence and $13,000,000 in the aggregate. The Company also has additional layers of external insurance coverage insuring up to $75,000,000 in aggregate losses per policy year arising from individual claims anywhere in the world that exceed the captive insurance company policy limits or the limits of the Company’s per country foreign liability limits, as applicable. There can be no assurance that Invacare’s current insurance levels will continue to be adequate or available at affordable rates.

Product liability reserves are recorded for individual claims based upon historical experience, industry expertise and indications from the third-party actuary. Additional reserves, in excess of the specific individual case reserves, are provided for incurred but not reported claims based upon actuarial valuations at the time such valuations are conducted. Historical claims experience and other assumptions are taken into consideration to estimate the ultimate reserves. For example, the actuarial analysis assumes that historical loss experience is an indicator of future experience, that the distribution of exposures by geographic area and nature of operations for ongoing operations is expected to be very similar to historical operations with no dramatic changes and that the government indices used to trend losses and exposures are appropriate. Estimates made are adjusted on a regular basis and can be impacted by actual loss awards and settlements on claims. While actuarial analysis is used to help determine adequate reserves, the Company is responsible for the determination and recording of adequate reserves in accordance with accepted loss reserving standards and practices.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING

In 2013, Invacare had fewer significant new product introductions, as its design engineering team focused on quality systems remediation as well as the research and development portion of the engineering process. However, the Company was proud to introduce select products that improve upon and renew its current offerings. The following are some of Invacare's notable new products for 2013:

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The Company introduced the Invacare® Modulite seating system to replace multiple legacy systems in Europe. The heart of the system is a modular frame that can support a number of positioning options and customer needs easily. With a minimal number of components, a single system can be adapted and modified to cover a variety of needs from a very basic seating system to a seating system with growth adjustability, as well as a variety of power positioning options including tilt, recline, elevate and power leg rests.

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The Company introduced the Invacare® Stream E power wheelchair, which is a refreshed version of an already proven European power wheelchair model with a new lighting system and updated electronics. This power wheelchair was designed to be a more consumer friendly product for markets needing an excellent outdoor/indoor driving performance at an affordable price.

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The Invacare® Pronto® Air Personal Transporter was designed as a cost-effective personal mobility device for consumers and providers who desire a mobility solution without dealing with reimbursement requirements. This cash sale equipment option features an innovative and sleek design with Invacare® MyBody® Seating and a travel-ready architecture.

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The Invacare® Top End® Reveal™ wheelchair provides exceptional value for a wide range of consumers needing a lightweight manual wheelchair. The modern, simple 7005 aluminum lightweight frame provides high quality and drivability for consumers, and it allows for ample center-of-gravity and rear seat-to-floor adjustments. In 2013, the Company introduced two new options to the Reveal wheelchair family: a flip-up footplate for ease in transfer and a tapered front frame for a lower profile look and streamlined design. Featuring an adjustable fold down back and seating options from Invacare® Matrx® Seating, the Reveal wheelchair features a modern design and unique customizations to meet consumers' style and needs.

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In the safe patient handling category, the Company launched the Invacare® I-Transia™ Ceiling Hoist in select European markets. The ceiling hoist is designed for homecare and long-term care use. It meets a wide range of day-to-day lifting needs encountered in private homes and long-term care homes, enabling caregivers to lift and move consumers without risking back strain. The discreet, classic design can be combined with a freestanding lift system or a single-track system.

Designed to handle the most common transfer situations with ease, the new Invacare® I-Lift™ Series was launched in North America with a 450 pound weight capacity to accommodate patient transfers from a bed, a stretcher, a wheelchair, a commode and even from the floor. With increased maneuverability, intuitive ease of use and enhanced safety features, the I-Lift™ Series delivers advanced features that help protect and assist caregivers in providing safe and effective healthcare to their patients.

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The Company introduced several new products to its personal care line in Europe. The additions include the Aquatec® Bidet, which was launched in November 2013, as well as accessories, such as an angle adjustable footrest and variable soft seat, for the Aquatec® Ocean range of bath safety products.

Introducing new product solutions to the market will allow the Company to resume its globalization program designed to harmonize core product offerings and reduce complexity within the business thereby increasing cost-effectiveness. In addition, by streamlining its engineering and product development capabilities on a global basis, the Company expects to further increase its industry leadership with the broadest range of product offerings in both homecare and continuing care medical device equipment. This will uniquely position the Company in a changing healthcare environment.

MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIERS

The Company’s objective is to continue to reduce costs and possibly consolidate facilities to maintain its high quality supply. The Company seeks to achieve this objective through a strategic combination of Invacare manufacturing facilities, contract manufacturing facilities and key suppliers.

The supply chain is focused on providing custom-configured, made-to-order manufactured products as well as high-quality, cost-effective solutions for standard stock products. As strategic choices are made globally, the Company will continue to be focused on providing quick product delivery to the market as a specific competitive advantage to the marketing and sales teams in these regions.

The Company continues to emphasize reducing the costs of its global manufacturing and distribution operations. Access to sourcing opportunities has been facilitated by the Company’s establishment of a test and design engineering facility in the Company’s Suzhou, China location.

Best practices in lean manufacturing are used throughout the Company’s operations to eliminate waste, shorten lead times, optimize inventory, improve productivity, drive quality and engage supply chain associates in the defining and implementation of needed change.

The Company purchases raw materials, components, sub-assemblies and finished goods from a variety of suppliers around the world. The Company’s Asian sourcing and purchasing office has proven to be an asset to the Company’s supply chain through the identification, development and management of suppliers across Asia. Where appropriate, Invacare utilizes contracts with suppliers in all regions to increase the guarantees of delivery, cost, quality and responsiveness. In those situations where contracts are not advantageous, Invacare works to manage multiple sources of supply and relationships that provide increased flexibility to the supply chain.

North America

The Company has focused its factories in North America on the production of powered mobility and custom manual wheelchairs and seating products, the fully integrated manufacture of homecare and institutional care beds, the final assembly of respiratory therapy products and the integrated component fabrication, painting and final assembly of a variety of standard manual wheelchairs and personal care products. The Company operates four major factories located in Elyria, Ohio; Sanford, Florida; London, Ontario and Reynosa, Mexico. On February 12, 2014, the Company announced its decision to close its London manufacturing facility by mid-2014. Production of case goods currently manufactured in London will be transferred to the Invacare plant in Sanford, Florida. The long-term care beds production in London, Ontario will be outsourced to a third-party with established FDA-registered manufacturing capabilities around the world. The third-party manufacturer has a significant focus on medical devices, including acute care bed production.

Asia/Pacific

Invacare manufactures products that serve regional market opportunities through the Company’s wholly-owned factories in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. The Suzhou facilities supply products to the major geographic regions of the world served by Invacare: North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific.

The Company has eight manufacturing/assembly facilities spread throughout Europe with the capability to manufacture patient aid, wheelchair, powered mobility, bath safety, beds and patient transport products. The European manufacturing and logistics facilities are focused on opportunities to gain productivity improvements in cost and quality over the next few years.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

The Company is directly affected by government regulation and reimbursement policies in virtually every country in which it operates. Government regulations and health care policy differ from country to country, and within some countries (most notably the U.S., European Union, Australia and Canada), from state to state or province to province. Changes in regulations and health care policy take place frequently and can impact the size, growth potential and profitability of products sold in each market.

In the U.S., the growth of health care costs has increased at rates in excess of the rate of inflation and as a percentage of GDP for several decades. A number of efforts to control the federal deficit have impacted reimbursement levels for government sponsored health care programs and private insurance companies often imitate changes made in federal programs. Reimbursement guidelines in the home health care industry have a substantial impact on the nature and type of equipment a consumer can obtain and thus, affect the product mix, pricing and payment patterns of the Company’s customers who are the HME providers.

The Company has continued its pro-active efforts to try to influence public policy that impacts home and community-based, non-acute health care. The Company has been very active with federal legislation and regulatory policy makers. Invacare believes that these efforts have given the Company a competitive advantage in two ways. First, customers frequently express appreciation for the Company’s efforts on behalf of the entire industry. Second, sometimes the Company has the ability to anticipate and plan for changes in public policy, unlike most other HME manufacturers who must react to change after it occurs.

FDA.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) regulates the manufacture and sale of medical devices. Under such regulation, medical devices are classified as Class I, Class II or Class III devices, depending on the level of risk posed to patients, with Class III designating the highest-risk devices. The Company’s principal products are designated as Class I or Class II devices. In general, Class I devices must comply with labeling and record keeping requirements and are subject to other general controls. In addition to general controls, certain Class II devices must comply with product design and manufacturing controls in compliance with regulations established by the FDA. Domestic and foreign manufacturers of medical devices distributed commercially in the U.S. are subject to periodic inspections by the FDA. Furthermore, state, local and foreign governments have adopted regulations relating to the design, manufacture and marketing of health care products.

Consent Decree.

In December 2012, the Company reached an agreement with the FDA on the terms of a consent decree of injunction with respect to the Company's corporate facility and its Taylor Street wheelchair manufacturing facility in Elyria, Ohio. The consent decree, which was filed as an exhibit to the Company's Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2012, became effective December 21, 2012. The injunction limits the Company's manufacture and distribution of power and manual wheelchairs, wheelchair components and wheelchair sub-assemblies at or from its Taylor Street manufacturing facility. The decree also temporarily limited design activities related to wheelchairs and power beds that took place at the impacted Elyria, Ohio facilities. The Company is entitled to continue to produce from the Taylor Street manufacturing facility certain medically necessary wheelchairs provided that documentation and record-keeping requirements are followed, as well as ongoing replacement, service and repair of products already in use, under terms delineated in the consent decree. In addition, the Company was able to fulfill purchase orders and quotes that were in the Company's order fulfillment system prior to the effective date of the decree. Under the terms of the consent decree, in order to resume full operations at the impacted facilities, the Company must successfully complete a third-party expert certification audit and receive written notification from the FDA. The expert certification audit will be followed by an FDA inspection of the Company's compliance with the FDA's Quality System Regulation (QSR) governing manufacturing of medical devices. The certification audit is comprised of three distinct reports, which include:

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First, the third-party expert inspected the qualification and validation procedures and documentation for equipment and processes at the Taylor Street manufacturing facility. The first certification audit was successfully completed during 2013. The FDA notified the Company on May 13, 2013 that it had accepted the first certification report. Following receipt of that notification, Invacare was permitted to resume manufacturing at the Taylor Street facility and distribution of parts, components and accessories, and sub-assemblies used in the service and repair of products manufactured at Invacare facilities other than Taylor Street.

Second, the third-party expert reviewed the Company’s design control systems at the corporate and Taylor Street facilities. The second certification audit also was successfully completed during 2013. The FDA notified the Company on July 16, 2013 that it had accepted the second certification report, after which the Company was permitted to resume design activities at the corporate and Taylor Street facilities.

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The third and final third-party expert audit involves a comprehensive review of the Company’s compliance with the FDA’s quality system regulations at the corporate and Taylor Street facilities. During the final certification audit, the third-party expert indicated that some additional work was required, primarily in the Company’s updated complaint and risk review processes, before the final certification report could be completed and provided to the FDA. The Company has been executing its action plan relating to the expert’s comments, and the third-party expert auditor returned at the end of February 2014 to recommence the final certification audit.

After completion of the third expert certification report, the Company then must submit its own report related to its compliance status and its responses to any observations by the third-party expert or by the FDA from prior inspections. The Company will not be able to resume full operations at the corporate and Taylor Street facilities until the FDA issues written notice that it has found the facilities to be in compliance. Within 30 days of receiving the Company’s report, the FDA will begin a comprehensive inspection of the corporate and Taylor Street facilities. The Company cannot predict the timing of the completion or the outcome of the FDA’s inspection. If, after its inspection, the FDA determines that the facilities are satisfactorily compliant, it will issue written notification to the Company, after which full operations may resume at both the corporate and Taylor Street facilities.

After resumption of full operations, the Company must undergo five years of audits by a third-party expert auditor to determine whether the Company's operations are operated and administered in continuous compliance with the consent decree and FDA regulations. The auditor will inspect the corporate and Taylor Street facilities’ activities every six months in the first year following the resumption of full operations and then once every 12 months for the next four years.

Under the consent decree, the FDA has the authority to inspect the corporate and Taylor Street facilities at any time. The FDA also has the authority to order the Company to take a wide variety of actions if the FDA finds that the Company is not in compliance with the consent decree or FDA regulations, including requiring the Company to shut down all operations relating to wheelchairs manufactured at the Taylor Street facility. The FDA can also order the Company to undertake a partial shutdown or a recall, issue a safety alert, public health advisory, or press release, or to take any other corrective action the FDA deems necessary with respect to wheelchairs manufactured at the Taylor Street facility.

The FDA also has authority under the consent decree to assess liquidated damages of $15,000 per violation per day for any violations of the consent decree, FDA regulations or the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The FDA may also assess liquidated damages for shipments of adulterated or misbranded devices, except as permitted by the consent decree, in the amount of twice the sale price of any such adulterated or misbranded device. The liquidated damages are capped at $7,000,000 for each calendar year. The liquidated damages are in addition to any other remedies otherwise available to the FDA, including civil money penalties.

See Item 1A. Risk Factors and Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion of these matters.

Other FDA Matters.

In December 2010, the Company received a warning letter from the FDA related to quality system processes and procedures at the Company's Sanford, Florida facility. The Company has developed and is executing a comprehensive quality systems remediation plan to address the matters in the warning letter. See Item 1A. Risk Factors.

In January 2014, the FDA conducted inspections at the Company’s manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China and at the Company’s electronic components subsidiary in Christchurch, New Zealand, covering quality systems and current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations. The FDA issued its inspectional observations on Form 483 to the Company after these inspections, and the Company submitted its responses to the agency in a timely manner.

From time to time, the Company may undertake voluntary recalls or field corrective actions of the Company’s products to correct product issues that may arise. These actions help to maintain ongoing customer relationships and enhance the Company’s reputation for adhering to high standards of quality and safety. The Company continues to strengthen its programs to better ensure compliance with applicable regulations and actively keeps abreast of proposed regulations, particularly those which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

During 2013, the Company initiated a power wheelchair joystick recall, which involves the replacement of the potentially affected joysticks, which are sold globally. The power wheelchair joystick performance issue relates to an anomaly discovered in a portion of the components in the field. The Company has a warranty reserve for this power wheelchair component recall, which is discussed further in the "Current Liabilities" and “Contingencies” Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company occasionally sponsors scientific studies, usually involving its respiratory therapy products. These studies have historically been bench studies using situation models to validate and compare device performance against competitive products. Such studies have been published as abstracts and/or manuscripts in peer reviewed science journals.

Affordable Care Act.

The U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act), included a number of provisions affecting the HME industry. In addition to expanding the Medicare National Competitive Bidding (NCB) program from 70 to 91 geographic bid areas, Medicare now makes rental payments for 13 months before the beneficiary assumes ownership of a standard power wheelchair. The Affordable Care Act imposes a “productivity adjustment” to the annual fee schedules of all Medicare providers, including HME providers, that limits any annual cost of living increases applied to the fee schedules. The Affordable Care Act also included an excise tax on U.S. sales of medical device manufacturers or importers, such as Invacare. The 2.3% sales-based excise tax on medical device manufacturers or importers began on January 1, 2013. The excise tax does not apply to medical devices that the Secretary of Treasury determines are generally purchased by the general public at retail for individual use. In December 2012, the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations related to the 2.3% excise tax, and in particular, the application of the retail exception. The excise tax is deductible by the manufacturer or importer on its federal income tax return. The Company has reviewed the final regulations and believes that most of its products are exempt from the tax based on the retail exemption provided in the Affordable Care Act as defined in the regulations. The Company has determined that certain products that it sells for institutional use are subject to the excise tax. Based on its interpretation of the regulations, the impact of the tax was $400,000 in 2013. The Company was able to pass a majority of this tax on to the market.

National Competitive Bidding.

With respect to reimbursement in the United States, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began implementation on January 1, 2011 of the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) program in nine metropolitan areas across the country (Round 1). On July 1, 2013, CMS expanded the program to an additional 91 metropolitan areas (Round 2). These bid programs have resulted in new, lower Medicare payment rates in these 100 areas. CMS rebids these areas every three years and hence a second round of contracts began in the nine Round 1 areas on January 1, 2014. The Company remains judicious in its extension of credit to customers and monitors whether other payors begin to model their payments on the NCB program. The Company also closely watches state Medicaid budgets and how deficits may impact coverage and payments for home medical equipment and institutional care products.

Although reductions in Medicare payments are not beneficial to the homecare industry, the Company believes that, over the long term, it can still grow and thrive in this environment. No significant cost-of-living adjustments have been made over the last few years to the reimbursement and payment amounts permitted under Medicare with respect to the Company’s products, but the Company intends to respond with improved productivity. In addition, the Company’s respiratory therapy products (for example, the low-cost HomeFill® oxygen delivery system) can help offset the Medicare reimbursement cuts to the homecare provider. The Company intends to focus on developing products that help the provider improve profitability. Additionally, the Company continues to focus on low-cost country sourcing and/or manufacturing to help ensure that the Company is one of the lowest cost manufacturers and distributors.

BACKLOG

The Company generally manufactures most of its products to meet near-term demands by shipping from stock or by building to order based on the specialty nature of certain products. Therefore, the Company does not have substantial backlog of orders of any particular product nor does it believe that backlog is a significant factor for its business.

EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately 5,400 employees.

The Company also markets its products for export to other foreign countries. In 2013, the Company's products were sold in over 80 countries. For information relating to net sales, operating income and identifiable assets of the Company’s foreign operations, see Business Segments in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company files Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments thereto, as well as proxy statements and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The public may read and copy any material that the Company files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website, www.sec.gov, which contains all reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company with the SEC.

Additionally, Invacare’s filings with the SEC are available on or through the Company’s website, www.invacare.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed electronically with, or furnished to, the SEC. Copies of the Company’s filings also can be requested, free of charge, by writing to: Shareholder Relations Department, Invacare Corporation, One Invacare Way, P.O. Box 4028, Elyria, OH 44036-2125. The contents of the Company's website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Terms such as “will,” “should,” “could,” “plan,” “intend,” “expect,” “continue,” “believe” and “anticipate,” as well as similar comments, denote forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results and events may differ significantly from those expressed or anticipated as a result of risks and uncertainties, which include, but are not limited to, the following: compliance costs, limitations on the production and/or distribution of the Company's products, inability to bid on orwin certain contracts, or other adverse effects of the FDA consent decree of injunction; unexpected circumstances or developments that might further delay or adversely impact the results of the final, most comprehensive third-party expert certification audit or FDA inspections of the Company's quality systems at the Elyria, Ohio, facilities impacted by the FDA consent decree, including any possible requirement to perform additional remediation activities; the failure or refusal of customers or healthcare professionals to sign verification of medical necessity (VMN) documentation or other certification forms required by the exceptions to the FDA consent decree; possible adverse effects of being leveraged, including interest rate or event of default risks, including those relating to the Company's financial covenants under its credit facility (particularly as might result from the impacts associated with the FDA consent decree); the Company's inability to satisfy its liquidity needs, or additional costs to do so; adverse changes in government and other third-party payor reimbursement levels and practices both in the U.S. and in other countries (such as, for example, more extensive pre-payment reviews and post-payment audits by payors, or the Medicare National Competitive Bidding program covering nine metropolitan statistical areas that started in 2011 and the additional 91 metropolitan statistical areas that started on July 1, 2013); impacts of the U.S. Affordable Care Act that was enacted in 2010 (such as, for example, the impact on the Company of the excise tax on certain medical devices, which began on January 1, 2013, and the Company's ability to successfully offset such impact); legal actions, regulatory proceedings or the Company's failure to comply with regulatory requirements or receive regulatory clearance or approval for the Company's products or operations in the United States or abroad; product liability or warranty claims; product recalls, including more extensive recall experience than expected; exchange rate or tax rate fluctuations; inability to design, manufacture, distribute and achieve market acceptance of new products with greater functionality or lower costs or new product platforms that deliver the anticipated benefits of the Company's globalization strategy; consolidation of health care providers; lower cost imports; uncollectible accounts receivable; difficulties in implementing/upgrading Enterprise Resource Planning systems; risks inherent in managing and operating businesses in many different foreign jurisdictions; ineffective cost reduction and restructuring efforts; delays, disruptions or excessive costs incurred in facility closures or consolidations; decreased availability or increased costs of materials which could increase the Company's costs of producing or acquiring the Company's products, including possible increases in commodity costs or freight costs; heightened vulnerability to a hostile takeover attempt arising from depressed market prices for Company shares; provisions of Ohio law or in the Company's debt agreements, shareholder rights plan or charter documents that may prevent or delay a change in control, as well as the risks described from time to time in the Company's reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except to the extent required by law, the Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to review or update any forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of such statements to reflect future events or developments or otherwise.

The Company’s business, operations and financial condition are subject to various risks and uncertainties. One should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this annual report on Form 10-K and in the Company’s other filings with the SEC, before making any investment decision with respect to the Company’s securities. The risks and uncertainties described below may not be the only ones the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known by the Company or that the Company currently deems immaterial may also affect the Company’s business. If any of these known or unknown risks or uncertainties actually occur, develop or worsen, the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects could change substantially.

The Company is subject to a consent decree of injunction ("consent decree") with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), the effects of which are costly to the Company and could result in continued adverse consequences to the Company's business.

The consent decree, which was filed as an exhibit to the Company's Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2012, became effective December 21, 2012. The injunction limits the Company's manufacture and distribution of power and manual wheelchairs, wheelchair components and wheelchair sub-assemblies at or from its Taylor Street manufacturing facility. The decree also temporarily limited design activities related to wheelchairs and power beds that take place at the impacted Elyria, Ohio facilities. However, the Company is entitled to continue to produce from the Taylor Street manufacturing facility certain medically necessary wheelchairs provided that documentation and record-keeping requirements are followed, as well as ongoing replacement, service and repair of products already in use, under terms delineated in the consent decree. In addition, the Company was able to fulfill purchase orders and quotes that were in the Company's order fulfillment system prior to the effective date of the decree. Under the terms of the consent decree, in order to resume full operations at the impacted facilities, the Company must successfully complete a third-party expert certification audit and receive written notification from the FDA. The certification audit is comprised of three distinct reports. The first two of the three certification reports were completed and accepted by the FDA during 2013. The final and most comprehensive certification audit was initiated during 2013, but has not yet been completed. During the final certification audit, the third-party expert indicated that some additional work was required, primarily in the Company’s updated complaint and risk review processes, before the final certification report could be completed and provided to the FDA. The Company has been executing its action plan relating to the expert’s comments, in preparation for the return at the end of February 2014 of the third-party expert and recommencement of the final certification audit, but the timing of the completion of the third certification report is uncertain. After completion of the third certification report, the Company then must submit its own report related to its compliance status and its responses to any observations by the third-party expert or by the FDA from prior inspections. The Company will not be able to resume full operations at the corporate and Taylor Street facilities until the FDA issues written notice that it has found the facilities to be in compliance. Within 30 days of receiving the Company’s report, according to the terms of the consent decree, the FDA will begin a comprehensive inspection of the corporate and Taylor Street facilities.

It is not possible for the Company to estimate the timing or potential response of the FDA's inspection and subsequent written notification. A delay in the timing of the completion of the final third-party expert certification audit, the FDA's inspection or written notification to resume operations, or any need to complete significant additional remediation as a result of the final third-party expert certification audit or the FDA inspection could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.

After resumption of full operations, the Company must undergo five years of audits by a third-party expert auditor, who will issue reports to the Company and the FDA identifying whether the facilities are operated and administered in continuous compliance with FDA regulations and the consent decree. Under the consent decree, the FDA has the authority to inspect the corporate and Taylor Street facilities at any time. The FDA also has the authority to order the Company to take a wide variety of actions if the FDA finds that the Company is not in compliance with the consent decree or FDA regulations. The FDA also has authority under the consent decree to assess liquidated damages for any violations of the consent decree, FDA regulations or the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. See Item 1. Business -- Government Regulation. Any such failure by the Company to comply with the consent decree or FDA regulations, or any need to complete significant remediation as a result of any such audits or inspections, or actions taken by the FDA as a result of any such failure to comply, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.

During the pendency of the consent decree negotiations in 2012, and during its effectiveness since December 21, 2012, the Company has experienced significant pressures on its net sales and operating results. See Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. The Company expects to continue to experience decreased net sales and profitability, particularly in the North America/HME segment, until it has successfully completed the previously described final third-party expert certification audit and FDA inspection and has received written notification from the FDA that the Company

may resume full operations. Even after the Company receives the FDA notification, it is uncertain as to whether, or how quickly, the Company will be able to rebuild net sales and profitability to more typical historical levels, irrespective of market conditions.

The Company’s failure to comply with medical device regulatory requirements or receive regulatory clearance or approval for the Company’s products or operations in the United States or abroad could adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company’s medical devices are subject to extensive regulation in the United States by the FDA, and by similar governmental authorities in the foreign countries where the Company does business. The FDA regulates virtually all aspects of a medical device’s development, testing, manufacturing, labeling, promotion, distribution and marketing. In addition, the Company is required to file reports with the FDA if the Company’s products may have caused, or contributed to a death or serious injury, or if they malfunction and would be likely to cause, or contribute to a death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur. In general, unless an exemption applies, the Company’s mobility and respiratory therapy medical devices must receive a pre-marketing clearance from the FDA before they can be marketed in the United States. The FDA also regulates the export of medical devices to foreign countries. The Company cannot be assured that any of the Company’s devices, to the extent required, will be cleared by the FDA through the pre-market clearance process or that the FDA will provide export certificates that are necessary to export certain of the Company’s products. Export certificates are required for the Company to have its products registered for sale in certain foreign countries. The inability to obtain export certificates for products produced at its Taylor Street or Sanford facilities has limited the Company's ability to support new foreign markets with such products. In connection with the FDA warning letter received by the Company's Sanford, Florida facility in December 2010, as described below, the FDA has refused to provide new export certificates for Company products until the matters covered in the warning letter are resolved. Currently, the Company cannot obtain new certificates of export for Sanford, Florida facility products until the warning letter has been closed and for Taylor Street facility products until the Company has exited the injunctive phase of the consent decree.

Additionally, the Company is required to obtain pre-market clearances to market modifications to the Company’s existing products or market its existing products for new indications. The FDA requires device manufacturers themselves to make and document a determination as to whether or not a modification requires a new clearance; however, the FDA can review and disagree with a manufacturer’s decision. The Company has applied for, and received, a number of pre-market clearances for modifications to marketed devices. The Company may not be successful in receiving clearances in the future or the FDA may not agree with the Company’s decisions not to seek clearances for any particular device modification. The FDA may require a clearance for any past or future modification or a new indication for the Company’s existing products. Such submissions may require the submission of additional data and may be time consuming and costly, and ultimately may not be cleared by the FDA.

If the FDA requires the Company to obtain pre-market clearances for any modification to a previously cleared device, the Company may be required to cease manufacturing and marketing the modified device or to recall the modified device until the Company obtains FDA clearance, and the Company may be subject to significant regulatory fines or penalties. In addition, the FDA may not clear these submissions in a timely manner, if at all. The FDA also may change its policies, adopt additional regulations or revise existing regulations, each of which could prevent or delay pre-market clearance of the Company’s devices, or could impact the Company’s ability to market a device that was previously cleared. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company’s failure to comply with the regulatory requirements of the FDA and other applicable U.S. regulatory requirements may subject the Company to administrative or judicially imposed sanctions. These sanctions include warning letters, civil penalties, criminal penalties, injunctions, consent decrees, product seizure or detention, product recalls and total or partial suspension of production.

As part of its regulatory function, the FDA routinely inspects the sites of medical device companies, and in 2010, 2011 and 2014, the FDA inspected certain of the Company's facilities. In December 2012, the Company and the FDA agreed to a consent decree of injunction affecting the Company's corporate facility and its Taylor Street manufacturing facility in Elyria, Ohio. See the previous Risk Factor regarding the FDA consent decree. In addition, in December 2010, the Company received a warning letter from the FDA related to quality system processes and procedures at the Company's Sanford, Florida facility. The Company is executing a comprehensive quality systems remediation plan that is intended to address all of the FDA's concerns in the warning letter. However, the results of regulatory claims, proceedings or investigations are difficult to predict. An unfavorable resolution or outcome of the FDA warning letter, or any other matter that may arise out of any FDA inspection of the Company's sites, could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In January 2014, the FDA conducted inspections at the Company’s manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China and at the Company’s electronic components subsidiary in Christchurch, New Zealand, covering quality systems and current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations. The FDA issued its inspectional observations on Form 483 to the Company after these inspections, and the Company submitted its responses to the agency in a timely manner.

In many of the foreign countries in which the Company manufactures or markets its products, the Company is subject to extensive medical device regulations that are similar to those of the FDA, including those in Europe. The regulation of the Company’s products in Europe falls primarily within the European Economic Area, which consists of the 27 member states of the European Union, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Only medical devices that comply with certain conformity requirements of the Medical Device Directive are allowed to be marketed within the European Economic Area. In addition, the national health or social security organizations of certain foreign countries, including those outside Europe, require the Company’s products to be qualified before they can be marketed in those countries. Failure to receive or delays in the receipt of, relevant foreign qualifications in the European Economic Area or other foreign countries could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

Being in the health care industry, the Company is subject to extensive government regulation, and if the Company fails to comply with applicable health care laws or regulations, the Company could suffer severe civil or criminal sanctions or be required to make significant changes to the Company’s operations that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

The Company sells its products principally to medical equipment and home health care providers who resell or rent those products to consumers. Many of those providers (the Company’s customers) are reimbursed for the Invacareproducts sold to their customers and patients by third-party payors, including Medicare and Medicaid. The U.S. federal government and the governments in the states and other countries in which the Company operates regulate many aspects of the Company’s business. As a part of the health care industry, the Company is subject to extensive government regulation, including numerous laws directed at preventing fraud and abuse and laws regulating reimbursement under various government programs. The marketing, invoicing, documenting and other practices of health care suppliers and manufacturers are all subject to government scrutiny. Government agencies periodically open investigations and obtain information from health care suppliers and manufacturers pursuant to the legal process. Violations of law or regulations can result in severe administrative, civil and criminal penalties and sanctions, including disqualification from Medicare and other reimbursement programs, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. While the Company has established numerous policies and procedures to address compliance with these laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that the Company's efforts will be effective to prevent a material adverse effect on the Company’s business from noncompliance issues. For example, as discussed in the preceding Risk Factors, the Company is subject to a FDA consent decree affecting its corporate facility and Taylor Street manufacturing facility in Elyria, Ohio and received a FDA warning letter related to its Sanford, Florida facility.

The Company received a subpoena in 2006 from the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") seeking documents relating to three long-standing and well-known promotional and rebate programs maintained by the Company. The Company believes that the programs described in the subpoena are in compliance with all applicable laws and the Company has cooperated fully with the government investigation. As of February 2014, the subpoena remains pending; although the last communication with the DOJ was in 2007.

Health care is an area of rapid regulatory change. Changes in the law and new interpretations of existing laws may affect permissible activities, the costs associated with doing business, and reimbursement amounts paid by federal, state and other third-party payors. The Company cannot predict the future of federal, state and local regulation or legislation, including Medicare and Medicaid statutes and regulations, or possible changes in health care policies in any country in which the Company conducts business. Future legislation and regulatory changes could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

Changes in government and other third-party payor reimbursement levels and practices have negatively impacted and could continue to negatively impact the Company’s revenues and profitability.

The Company’s products are sold primarily through a network of medical equipment and home health care providers, extended care facilities, hospital and HMO-based stores and other providers. In addition, the Company sells directly to various government providers throughout the world. Many of these providers (the Company’s customers) are reimbursed for the products and services provided to their customers and patients by third-party payors, such as government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, private insurance plans and managed care programs. Most of these programs set maximum reimbursement levels for some of the products sold by the Company in the United States and abroad. If third-party payors deny coverage, make the reimbursement process or documentation requirements more uncertain or further reduce their current levels of reimbursement (i.e., beyond the reductions described below), or if the Company’s costs of production do not decrease to keep pace with decreases in reimbursement levels, the Company may be unable to sell the affected product(s) through its distribution channels on a profitable basis.

Reduced government reimbursement levels and changes in reimbursement policies have in the past added, and could continue to add, significant pressure to the Company’s revenues and profitability. For example, in 100 metropolitan areas, CMS introduced a national competitive bidding program (NCB) which set new, lower payment rates for medical equipment and supplies. Round one of NCB for nine metropolitan areas in the U.S. went into effect in January 2011. The reimbursement rates for nine product categories were reduced by an average of 32 percent in these nine metropolitan areas. Effective July 2013, CMS commenced round two of the NCB program, which was expanded to include an additional 91 metropolitan areas. CMS announced that Medicare reimbursement rates were cut an average of 45 percent for those providers participating in the round two of the NCB program. CMS announced that the NCB program has resulted in $202.1 million in savings in its first year of implementation in the nine metropolitan areas with significant savings primarily in oxygen and oxygen supplies, mail-order diabetic supplies and standard power wheelchairs. The CMS Office of the Actuary estimates that this program will save Medicare an estimated $25.8 billion, and beneficiaries an estimated $17.2 billion, over the next ten years.

Similar trends and concerns are occurring in state Medicaid programs. These recent changes to reimbursement policies, and any additional unfavorable reimbursement policies or budgetary cuts that may be adopted in the future, could adversely affect the demand for the Company’s products by customers who depend on reimbursement from the government-funded programs. The percentage of the Company’s overall sales that are dependent on Medicare or other insurance programs may increase as the portion of the U.S. population over age 65 continues to grow, making the Company more vulnerable to reimbursement level reductions by these organizations. Reduced government reimbursement levels also could result in reduced private payor reimbursement levels because some third-party payors index their reimbursement schedules to Medicare fee schedules. Reductions in reimbursement levels also may affect the profitability of the Company’s customers and ultimately force some customers without strong financial resources to go out of business. The reimbursement reductions may prove to be so dramatic that some of the Company’s customers may not be able to adapt quickly enough to survive. The Company is the industry’s largest creditor and an increase in bankruptcies in the Company’s customer base could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial results.

Outside the United States, reimbursement systems vary significantly by country. Many foreign markets have government-managed health care systems that govern reimbursement for new home health care products. The ability of hospitals and other providers supported by such systems to purchase the Company’s products is dependent, in part, upon public budgetary constraints. Various countries have tightened reimbursement rates and other countries may follow. If adequate levels of reimbursement from third-party payors outside of the United States are not obtained, international sales of the Company’s products may decline, which could adversely affect the Company’s net sales.

The impact of all the changes discussed above is uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The adoption of healthcare reform and other legislative developments in the United States may adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and/or financial condition.

The Affordable Care Act includes provisions intended to expand access to health insurance coverage, improve the quality and reduce the costs of healthcare over time. Specifically, as one means to pay for the costs of the Affordable Care Act, the law imposes a 2.3% sales-based excise tax on U.S. sales by manufacturers or importers of most medical devices beginning January 1, 2013. The excise tax is deductible by the manufacturer or importer on its federal income tax return. The Company has determined that most of its products are exempt from the tax based on the retail exemption provided in the Affordable Care Act as defined by the regulations. However, certain products that it sells for institutional use are subject to the excise tax. Based on its interpretation of the regulations, the Company's impact from the tax was approximately $400,000 for 2013, the majority of which the Company was able to pass on to the market. However, the excise tax may increase the Company’s cost of doing business, particularly if the exemptions do not ultimately apply as the Company expects based on its interpretations of the regulations.

Other provisions of this legislation include provisions to improve the quality of health care that can lower cost for beneficiaries. In 2012, Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) began participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization Model. These programs encourage providers to invest in redesigning care for higher quality and more efficient service delivery. CMS has published that Medicare ACOs participating in the Shared Savings Program generated $147 million in net savings for Medicare in their first year while continuing to deliver high quality care.

The Affordable Care Act includes a number of policies to promote non-institutional long-term care programs that will help keep people at home and out of institutions. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia are now participating in the "Money Follows the Person Program" to help rebalance their long-term care systems to transition Medicaid beneficiaries from institutions to the community. Over 31,000 people with chronic conditions and disabilities have transitioned from institutions back into the community through Money Follows the Person programs as of December 2012. Seventeen states are participating in the "Balancing Incentive Program," which gives states incentives to increase access to non-institutional long-term services and supports and

provides new ways to serve more Medicaid beneficiaries in home and community-based settings. Fourteen states have approved Health Home State Plan Amendments to integrate and coordinate primary, acute, behavioral health, and long term services and supports for Medicaid beneficiaries. An additional Affordable Care Act program, "Independence at Home," tests whether providing chronically ill beneficiaries with primary care in the home will help them stay healthy and out of the hospital. Fifteen physician practices and three consortia of physician practices are participating in the Independence at Home Demonstration.

The Affordable Care Act and the programs implemented by the law may reduce reimbursements for the Company's products, may impact the demand for the Company’s products and may impact the prices at which the Company sells its products. In addition, various healthcare programs and regulations may be ultimately implemented at the federal or state level. Such changes could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and/or financial condition.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) enacted in 2010, and the rules and regulations enacted thereunder by the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), institute a wide range of reforms, certain of which may impact the Company. Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act contains significant corporate governance and executive compensation-related provisions that authorize or require the SEC to adopt additional rules and regulations in these areas, such as shareholder “say on pay” voting and proxy access. The Dodd-Frank Act also provides for new statutory and regulatory requirements for derivative transactions, including foreign exchange and interest rate hedging transactions, and new requirements will be implemented over time. The Company enters into foreign exchange contracts, interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts from time to time to manage its exposure to commodity price risk, foreign currency exchange risk and interest rate risk. The Company does not enter into derivative transactions for speculative purposes. Unless exempt, certain of these transactions, such as interest rate swaps and foreign exchange swaps, are required to be cleared by a registered derivatives clearing organization and subject to exchange trading requirements. If a derivative is required to be cleared, the Company would be subject to cash and securities initial and variation margin posting, increasing the cost to the Company of mitigating commercial risk and impacting its strategic hedging activity. The contractual counterparties in hedging arrangements are likewise subject to increased costs as a result of compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act and it is anticipated these costs will be passed on to their customers. Derivative activities are subject to further regulatory and rule making activities by the SEC and CFTC as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, creating uncertainty as to the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on the Company's business. The Company will continue to analyze the suitability of particular hedging arrangements and to invest appropriate resources to comply with both existing and evolving standards.

In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act contains provisions to improve transparency and accountability concerning the sourcing of “conflict minerals” from mines located in the conflict zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its adjoining countries. The term “conflict minerals” currently encompasses tantalum, tin, tungsten (or their ores) and gold. Conflict minerals can be found in a vast array of products. This legislation requires manufacturers, such as the Company, to investigate and disclose their use of any conflict minerals originating in the DRC or adjoining countries. It also implements guidelines to assist the manufacturer in preventing, by way of performing due diligence in its supply chain, any such sourcing from, or potentially financing or benefiting, armed groups in this area. The initial conflict materials report is to be filed with the SEC by May 31, 2014. The Company may be required to undertake a significant due diligence process requiring considerable investments of human resources and finances in order to comply with the conflict minerals due diligence and disclosure requirements. If the Company's suppliers are unable or unwilling to provide it with requested information and to take other steps to ensure that there is no financing or benefiting of armed groups in the DRC and there are no conflict minerals included in materials or components supplied to the Company, it may be forced to disclose in its SEC filings about the use of conflict minerals in its supply chain, which may expose the Company to reputational risks, which in turn could materially adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

If the Company’s cost reduction efforts are ineffective, the Company’s profitability could be negatively impacted.

In response to reimbursement reductions and competitive pricing pressures, the Company continues to initiate numerous cost reduction and organizational efficiency efforts, including globalization of its product lines. The Company may not be successful in achieving the operating efficiencies and operating cost reductions expected from these efforts, and the Company may experience business disruptions associated with the restructuring and cost reduction activities. These efforts may not produce the full efficiency and cost reduction benefits that the Company expects. Further, these benefits may be realized later than expected, and the costs of implementing these measures may be greater than anticipated. If these measures are not successful, the Company may undertake additional cost reduction efforts, which could result in future charges. Moreover, the Company’s ability to achieve other strategic goals and business plans and the Company’s financial performance may be adversely affected and the Company could experience business disruptions with customers and elsewhere if the Company’s cost reduction and restructuring efforts prove ineffective.

If the Company's information technology systems fail, or if the Company experiences an interruption in the operation of its information technology systems, then the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

The Company relies upon the capacity, reliability and security of its information technology, or IT, systems across all of its major business functions, including research and development, manufacturing, sales, financial and administrative functions. Since the Company is geographically diverse, has various business segments and has grown over the years though various acquisitions, it also has many disparate versions of IT systems across its organization. As a result of these disparate IT systems, the Company faces the challenge of supporting older systems and implementing upgrades when necessary. The failure of the Company's information technology systems, whether resulting from the disparate versions of IT systems across its various segments, business functions or otherwise, its inability to successfully maintain, enhance and/or replace its information technology systems, or any compromise of the integrity or security of the data that is generated from information technology systems, or any shortcomings in the Company's disaster recovery platforms, could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, disrupt business and make the Company unable, or severely limit the Company's ability to respond to customer demands. In addition, the Company's information technology systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from: earthquake, fire, flood and other natural disasters; employee or other theft; attacks by computer viruses or hackers; power outages; and computer systems, internet, telecommunications or data network failure.

Any interruption of the Company's information technology systems could result in decreased revenue, increased expenses, increased capital expenditures, customer dissatisfaction and potential lawsuits, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations or financial condition.

The industry in which the Company operates is highly competitive and some of the Company’s competitors may have greater financial resources than the Company does.

The home medical equipment market is highly competitive and the Company’s products face significant competition from other well-established manufacturers. Reduced government reimbursement levels and changes in reimbursement policies, such as the National Competitive Bidding program implemented by CMS, may drive competitors, particularly those that have greater financial resources than the Company's to offer drastically reduced pricing terms in an effort to secure government acceptance of their products and pricing. Any increase in competition may cause the Company to lose market share or compel the Company to reduce prices to remain competitive, which could have a material adverse affect on the Company’s results of operations.

The consolidation of health care customers and the Company’s competitors could result in a loss of customers or in additional competitive pricing pressures.

Numerous initiatives and reforms instituted by legislators, regulators and third-party payors to reduce home medical equipment costs have resulted in a consolidation trend in the home medical equipment industry as well as among the Company’s customers, including home health care providers. In the past, some of the Company’s competitors have been lowering the purchase prices of their products in an effort to attract customers. This in turn has resulted in greater pricing pressures, including pressure to offer customers more competitive pricing terms, and the exclusion of certain suppliers from important market segments as group purchasing organizations, independent delivery networks and large single accounts continue to consolidate purchasing decisions for some of the Company’s customers. Further consolidation could result in a loss of customers, increased collectability risks, or increased competitive pricing pressures.

The Company’s products are subject to recalls, which could be costly and harm the Company’s reputation and business.

The Company is subject to ongoing medical device reporting regulations that require the Company to report to the FDA or similar governmental authorities in other countries if the Company’s products cause, or contribute to, death or serious injury, or if they malfunction and would be likely to cause, or contribute to, death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur. The FDA and similar governmental authorities in other countries could force the Company to do a field correction or recall the Company’s products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacturing. In addition, in light of a deficiency, defect in design or manufacturing or defect in labeling, the Company may voluntarily elect to recall or correct the Company’s products. A government mandated or voluntary recall/field correction by the Company could occur as a result of component failures, manufacturing errors or design defects, including defects in labeling. Any recall/field correction would divert managerial and financial resources and could harm the Company’s reputation with its customers, product users and the health care professionals that use, prescribe and recommend the Company’s products. The Company could have product recalls or field actions that result in significant costs to the Company in the future, and these actions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. As an example, the Company's power wheelchair joystick recall has resulted in the recording an incremental warranty expense of $7,264,000 in 2013. The Company will continue to review the adequacy of the joystick recall accrual as the recall progresses.

The Company’s revenues and profits are subject to exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations that could adversely affect its results of operations or financial position.

Currency exchange rates are subject to fluctuation due to, among other things, changes in local, regional or global economic conditions, the imposition of currency exchange restrictions and unexpected changes in regulatory or taxation environments. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries outside the United States is the predominant currency used by the subsidiaries to transact business. Through the Company’s international operations, the Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations, and changes in exchange rates can have a significant impact on net sales and elements of cost. The Company conducts a significant number of transactions in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. In addition, because certain of the Company’s costs and revenues are denominated in other currencies, the Company’s results of operations are exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations as the financial results of those operations are translated from local currency into U.S. dollars upon consolidation.

The Company uses foreign exchange forward contracts primarily to help reduce its exposure to transactional exchange rate risk. Despite the Company’s efforts to mitigate these risks, however, the Company’s revenues and profitability may be materially adversely affected by exchange rate fluctuations. The Company does not have a meaningful way to hedge translation.

The Company also is exposed to market risk through various financial instruments, including fixed rate and floating rate debt instruments. The Company does at times use interest rate swap contracts to mitigate its exposure to interest rate fluctuations, but those efforts may not adequately protect the Company from significant interest rate risks. Interest on much of the Company’s debt is based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which is currently historically low. Increases in LIBOR could have a significant impact on the Company’s reported interest expense.

The Company maintains cash balances globally in various financial institutions.

While the Company monitors its accounts with financial institutions both domestically and internationally, recovery of funds cannot be assured in the event the financial institution would fail. In addition, the Company may be limited by foreign governments in the amount and timing of funds to be repatriated from foreign financial institutions. As a result, this could adversely impact the Company's ability to fund normal operations, capital expenditures, or service debt, which could adversely affect our results.

The Company is subject to certain risks inherent in managing and operating businesses in many different foreign jurisdictions.

The Company has significant international operations, including operations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Mexico, Asia (primarily China) and Europe. There are risks inherent in operating and selling products internationally, including:

foreign customers who may have longer payment cycles than customers in the United States;

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fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

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tax rates in certain foreign countries that may exceed those in the United States and foreign earnings that may be subject to withholding requirements;

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the imposition of tariffs, exchange controls or other trade restrictions including transfer pricing restrictions when products produced in one country are sold to an affiliated entity in another country;

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general economic and political conditions in countries where the Company operates or where end users of the Company’s products reside;

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government control of capital transactions, including the borrowing of funds for operations or the expatriation of cash;

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potential adverse tax consequences;

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security concerns and potential business interruption risks associated with political and/or social unrest in foreign countries where the Company’s facilities or assets are located;

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difficulties associated with managing a large organization spread throughout various countries;

The factors described above also could disrupt the Company’s product manufacturing/assembling and key suppliers located outside of the United States. For example, the Company increasingly relies on its manufacturing and sourcing operations in China for the production of its products. Disruptions in the Company’s foreign operations, particularly those in China or Mexico, may impact the Company’s revenues and profitability.

The Company may be adversely affected by legal actions or regulatory proceedings.

In addition to the risks associated with the impact of the FDA consent decree, the Company may be subject to claims, litigation or other liabilities as a result of injuries caused by allegedly defective products, acquisitions the Company has completed or in the intellectual property area. Any such claims or litigation against the Company, regardless of the merits, could result in substantial costs and could harm the Company's business or its reputation. Intellectual property litigation or claims also could require the Company to:

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cease manufacturing and selling any of the Company’s products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property;

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obtain a license from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right alleged to have been infringed, which license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all; or

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redesign or rename the Company’s products, which may not be possible, and could be costly and time consuming and could result in lost revenues and market share.

The results of legal proceedings are difficult to predict and the Company cannot provide any assurance that an action or proceeding will not be commenced against the Company, or that the Company will prevail in any such action or proceeding. An unfavorable resolution of any legal action or proceeding could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, results of operations, liquidity or financial condition or its reputation.

Product liability claims may harm the Company’s business, particularly if the number of claims increases significantly or the Company’s product liability insurance proves inadequate.

The manufacture and sale of home health care devices and related products exposes the Company to a significant risk of product liability claims. From time to time, the Company has been, and is currently, subject to a number of product liability claims alleging that the use of the Company’s products has resulted in serious injury or even death.

Even if the Company is successful in defending against any liability claims, these claims could nevertheless distract the Company’s management, result in substantial costs, harm the Company’s reputation, adversely affect the sales of all the Company’s products and otherwise harm the Company’s business. If there is a significant increase in the number of product liability claims, the Company’s business could be adversely affected.

The Company is self-insured in North America for product liability exposures through its captive insurance company, Invatection Insurance Company, which currently has a policy year that runs from September 1 to August 31 and insures annual policy losses up to $10,000,000 per occurrence and $13,000,000 in the aggregate. The Company also has additional layers of external insurance coverage insuring up to $75,000,000 in aggregate losses per policy year arising from individual claims anywhere in the world that exceed the captive insurance company policy limits or the limits of the Company’s per country foreign liability limits, as applicable. There can be no assurance that the Company’s current insurance levels will continue to be adequate or available at affordable rates.

Product liability reserves are recorded for individual claims based upon historical experience, industry expertise and indications from the third-party actuary. Additional reserves, in excess of the specific individual case reserves, are provided for incurred but not reported claims based upon actuarial valuations at the time such valuations are conducted. Historical claims experience and other assumptions are taken into consideration to estimate the ultimate reserves. For example, the actuarial analysis assumes that historical loss experience is an indicator of future experience, that the distribution of exposures by geographic area and nature of operations for ongoing operations is expected to be very similar to historical operations with no dramatic changes and that the government indices used to trend losses and exposures are appropriate. Estimates made are adjusted on a regular basis and can be impacted by actual loss awards and settlements on claims. While actuarial analysis is used to help determine adequate reserves, the Company is responsible for the determination and recording of adequate reserves in accordance with accepted loss reserving standards and practices.

In addition, as a result of a product liability claim or if the Company’s products are alleged to be defective, the Company may have to recall some of its products, may have to incur significant costs or may suffer harm to its business reputation.

Decreased availability or increased costs of raw materials could increase the Company’s costs of producing its products.

The Company purchases raw materials, fabricated components, some finished goods and services from a variety of suppliers. Raw materials such as plastics, steel and aluminum are considered key raw materials. Where appropriate, the Company employs contracts with its suppliers, both domestic and international. In those situations in which contracts are not advantageous, the Company believes that its relationships with its suppliers are satisfactory and that alternative sources of supply are readily available. From time to time, however, the prices and availability of these raw materials fluctuate due to global market demands, which could impair the Company’s ability to procure necessary materials, or increase the cost of these materials. Inflationary and other increases in costs of these raw materials have occurred in the past and may recur from time to time. In addition, freight costs associated with shipping and receiving product and sales are impacted by fluctuations in the cost of oil and gas. A reduction in the supply or increase in the cost of those raw materials could impact the Company’s ability to manufacture its products and could increase the cost of production. Additionally, the Company may not be able to increase the prices of our products due to competitive pricing pressure or other factors. As an example, inflation in China has in the past and will probably in the future increase costs and an appreciation of the Yuan or an increase in labor rates could have an unfavorable impact on the cost of key components and some finished goods. Demand in China and other developing countries for raw materials may result in increases in the cost of key commodities and could have a negative impact on the profits of the Company if these increases cannot be passed onto the Company’s customers.

Competition from lower cost imports sourced from low cost countries, such as Asia, may negatively impact the Company’s sales volumes. In the past, competition from certain of these products has caused the Company to lower its prices, cutting into the Company’s profit margins and reducing the Company’s overall profitability.

The Company’s success depends on the Company’s ability to design, manufacture, distribute and achieve market acceptance of new products with higher functionality and lower costs.

The Company sells products to customers primarily in markets that are characterized by technological change, product innovation and evolving industry standards, yet in which product price is increasingly a primary consideration in customers’ purchasing decisions. The Company historically has been engaged in product development and improvement programs. However, during 2012 and 2013 as a result of the FDA consent decree, which is described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company's engineering resources were focused primarily on quality remediation and not on the design of new products. The Company has received the FDA's approval to resume design activities at the impacted Elyria facilities and has started to refocus its engineering resources on new product development.

The Company must continue to design and improve innovative products, effectively distribute and achieve market acceptance of those products, and reduce the costs of producing the Company’s products, in order to compete successfully with the Company’s competitors. If competitors’ product development capabilities become more effective than the Company’s product development capabilities, if competitors’ new or improved products are accepted by the market before the Company’s products or if competitors are able to produce products at a lower cost and thus offer products for sale at a lower price, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operation could be adversely affected.

The Company’s business strategy relies on certain assumptions concerning demographic trends that impact the market for its products. If these assumptions prove to be incorrect, demand for the Company’s products may be lower than expected.

The Company’s ability to achieve its business objectives is subject to a variety of factors, including the relative increase in the aging of the general population. The Company believes that these trends will increase the need for its products. The projected demand for the Company’s products could materially differ from actual demand if the Company’s assumptions regarding these trends and acceptance of its products by health care professionals and patients prove to be incorrect or do not materialize. If the Company’s assumptions regarding these factors prove to be incorrect, the Company may not be able to successfully implement the Company’s business strategy, which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. In addition, the perceived benefits of these trends may be offset by competitive or business factors, such as the introduction of new products by the Company’s competitors or the emergence of other countervailing trends, including lower reimbursement and pricing.

The Company’s debt may limit the Company’s flexibility in operating its business.

The Company's senior secured revolving credit agreement, as most recently amended on January 31, 2014, (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) has been a principal source of financing for much of its liquidity needs. As a result of the January 31, 2014 amendment, the capacity was reduced from $250,000,000 to $100,000,000. The credit facility contains, among

other things, certain financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a maximum leverage ratio (consolidated funded indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA, as defined under the credit facility) of no greater than 4.75 to 1 for the first quarter of 2014 and gradually decreasing each quarter to 3.5 to 1 in the fourth quarter of 2014, and a minimum interest coverage ratio (consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest charges, as defined under the credit facility) of no less than 3.5 to 1. In calculating the leverage ratio, the Company can only exclude cash restructuring charges up to a maximum of $20,000,000 from May 30, 2013 until the agreement expires in 2015. If the Company is unsuccessful in meeting these covenants or other, financial or operating covenants in its credit facility, it would result in a default which could trigger acceleration of, or the right to accelerate, the related debt. Because of cross-default provisions in the agreements and instruments governing certain of the Company's indebtedness, a default under the credit facility could result in a default under, and the acceleration of, certain other Company indebtedness. In addition, the Company's lenders would be entitled to proceed against the collateral securing the indebtedness.

These covenants could materially and adversely affect the Company’s ability to finance its future operations or capital needs. Furthermore, they may restrict the Company’s ability to conduct and expand its business and pursue its business strategies. The Company’s ability to meet these financial ratios and financial condition tests can be affected by events beyond its control, including changes in general economic and business conditions, or they can be affected by government enforcement actions, such as, for example, adverse impacts from the FDA consent decree of injunction. If the Company were unsuccessful in meeting those, or other, financial or operating covenants in its credit facility, it would result in a default which could trigger acceleration of, or the right to accelerate, the related debt. The Company's ability to meet its liquidity needs will depend on many factors, including the operating performance of the business, the Company's ability to successfully complete in a timely manner the third-party expert certification audit and FDA inspection contemplated under the consent decree and receipt of the written notification from the FDA permitting the Company to resume full operations, as well as the Company's continued compliance with the covenants under its credit facility. Notwithstanding the Company's expectations, if the Company's operating results decline more than it currently anticipates, or if the Company is unable to successfully complete the final consent decree-related third-party expert certification audit and FDA inspection within the currently estimated time frame, the Company may be unable to comply with the financial covenants, and its lenders could demand repayment of the amounts outstanding under the Company's credit facility.

As a result, continued compliance with the leverage covenant under the Company's credit facility is a high priority, which means the Company remains focused on generating sufficient cash and managing its expenditures. The Company also may examine alternatives such as raising additional capital through permitted asset sales. Such asset sales could be dilutive to the Company's results. In addition, if necessary or advisable, the Company may seek to renegotiate its credit facility in order to remain in compliance. The Company can make no assurances that under such circumstances its financing arrangements could be renegotiated, or that alternative financing would be available on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all.

The Company also has an agreement with De Lage Landen, Inc. (“DLL”), a third party financing company, to provide the majority of future lease financing to Invacare's North America customers. Either party could terminate this agreement with 180 days notice or 90 days notice by DLL upon the occurrence of certain events. Should this agreement be terminated, the Company's borrowing under the credit agreement could increase.

The Company's capital expenditures could be higher than anticipated.

Unanticipated maintenance issues, changes in government regulations or significant investments in technology and new product development could result in higher than anticipated capital expenditures, which could impact our debt, interest expense and cash flows.

The Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and certain members of management own shares representing a substantial percentage of the Company’s voting power and their interests may differ from other shareholders.

The Company has two classes of common stock. The Common Shares have one vote per share and the Class B Common Shares have 10 votes per share. As of January 1, 2014, the Company’s chairman, Mr. A. Malachi Mixon, III, and certain members of management beneficially owned (including the right to acquire) approximately 34% of the combined voting power of the Company’s Common Shares and Class B Common Shares and could influence the outcome of a corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. They also will have the power to influence or make more difficult a change in control. The interests of Mr. Mixon and his relatives may differ from the interests of the other shareholders, and they may take actions with which some shareholders may disagree.

The Company’s operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected if the Company becomes involved in litigation regarding its patents or other intellectual property rights.

Litigation involving patents and other intellectual property rights is common in the Company’s industry, and other companies within the Company’s industry have used intellectual property litigation in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage. The Company in the past has been, and in the future may become, a party to lawsuits involving patents or other intellectual property. If the Company loses any of these proceedings, a court or a similar foreign governing body could invalidate or render unenforceable the Company’s owned or licensed patents, require the Company to pay significant damages, seek licenses and/or pay ongoing royalties to third parties, require the Company to redesign its products, or prevent the Company from manufacturing, using or selling its products, any of which would have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. The Company in the past has brought, and may in the future also bring, actions against third parties for infringement of the Company’s intellectual property rights. The Company may not succeed in these actions. The defense and prosecution of intellectual property suits, proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or its foreign equivalents and related legal and administrative proceedings are both costly and time consuming. Protracted litigation to defend or prosecute the Company’s intellectual property rights could seriously detract from the time the Company’s management would otherwise devote to running its business. Intellectual property litigation relating to the Company’s products could cause its customers or potential customers to defer or limit their purchase or use of the affected products until resolution of the litigation.

If the Company is unable to protect its intellectual property rights or resolve successfully claims of infringement brought against it, the Company's product sales and business could be affected adversely.

The Company's business depends in part on its ability to establish, protect, safeguard and enforce its intellectual property and contractual rights and to defend against any claims of infringement, both of which involve complex legal, factual and marketplace uncertainties. The Company relies on a combination of patent, trade secret, copyright and trademark law and security measures to protect its intellectual property, but effective intellectual property protection may not be available in all places that the Company sells its products or services, particularly in certain foreign jurisdictions. In addition, the Company uses nondisclosure, confidentiality agreements and invention assignment agreements with many of its employees, and nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements with certain third parties, in an effort to help protect its proprietary technology and know-how. If these agreements are breached or the Company's intellectual property is otherwise misappropriated, the Company may have to rely on litigation to enforce its intellectual property rights. If any of these measures are unsuccessful in protecting the Company's intellectual property, the Company's business may be affected adversely.

In addition, the Company may face claims of infringement that could interfere with its ability to use technology or other intellectual property rights that are material to the Company's business operations. In the event that a claim of infringement against the Company is successful, the Company may be required to pay royalties or license fees to continue to use technology or other intellectual property rights that the Company was using, or the Company may be unable to obtain necessary licenses from third parties at a reasonable cost or within a reasonable time. If the Company is unable to obtain licenses on reasonable terms, it may be forced to cease selling or using the products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property, or to redesign or, in the case of trademark claims, rename its products to avoid infringing the intellectual property rights of third parties, which may not be possible, or if possible, may be time-consuming. Any litigation of this type, whether successful or unsuccessful, could result in substantial costs to the Company and adversely affect the Company's business and financial condition.

The Company also holds patent and other intellectual property licenses from third parties for some of its products and on technologies that are necessary in the design and manufacture of some of the Company's products. The loss of these licenses could prevent the Company from, or could cause additional disruption or expense in, manufacturing, marketing and selling these products, which could harm the Company's business.

The Company’s research and development and manufacturing processes are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental requirements.

The Company’s research and development and manufacturing processes are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental requirements, including requirements governing the discharge of pollutants into the air or water, the use, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous substances and the responsibility to investigate and clean up contaminated sites. Under some of these laws, the Company also could be held responsible for costs relating to any contamination at the Company’s past or present facilities and at third-party waste disposal sites. These could include costs relating to contamination that did not result from any violation of law and, in some circumstances, contamination that the Company did not cause. The Company may incur significant expenses relating to the failure to comply with environmental laws. The enactment of stricter laws or regulations, the stricter interpretation of existing laws and regulations or the requirement to undertake the investigation or remediation of currently

unknown environmental contamination at the Company’s own or third-party sites may require the Company to make additional expenditures, which could be material.

Since the Company’s ability to obtain further financing may be limited, the Company may be unable to make strategic acquisitions.

The Company’s plans typically include identifying, analyzing, acquiring, and integrating other strategic businesses. There are various reasons for the Company to acquire businesses or product lines, including providing new products or new manufacturing and service capabilities, to add new customers, to increase penetration with existing customers, and to expand into new geographic markets. The Company’s ability to successfully grow through acquisitions depends upon its ability to identify, negotiate, complete and integrate suitable acquisitions and to obtain any necessary financing. The costs of acquiring other businesses could increase if competition for acquisition candidates increases. Further, the provisions of the Company’s existing credit facility impose limitations regarding acquisitions, which could prevent significant acquisitions, without entering into amendments with regard to those provisions. If the Company is unable to obtain the necessary financing, it may miss opportunities to grow its business through strategic acquisitions.

Additionally, the success of the Company’s acquisition strategy is subject to other risks and costs, including the following:

•

the Company’s ability to realize operating efficiencies, synergies, or other benefits expected from an acquisition, and possible delays in realizing the benefits of the acquired Company or products;

•

diversion of management’s time and attention from other business concerns;

•

difficulties in retaining key employees of the acquired businesses who are necessary to manage these businesses;

The Company is subject to income taxes in both the United States and various non-U.S. jurisdictions. The domestic and international tax liabilities are dependent upon the distribution of income among these different jurisdictions. The Company's tax expense includes estimates of additional tax which may be incurred for tax exposures and reflects various estimates and assumptions. In addition, the assumptions include assessments of future earnings of the Company that could impact the valuation of its deferred tax assets. The Company’s future results of operations could be adversely affected by changes in the effective tax rate as a result of a change in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the overall profitability of the Company, changes in tax legislation and rates, changes in generally accepted accounting principles, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, the results of audits and examinations of previously filed tax returns and continuing assessments of its tax exposures. Corporate tax reform and tax law changes continue to be analyzed in the United States and in many other jurisdictions.

The Company’s reported results may be adversely affected by increases in reserves for uncollectible accounts receivable.

The Company has a large balance of accounts receivable and has established a reserve for the portion of such accounts receivable that the Company estimates will not be collected because of the Company’s customers’ non-payment. The specific reserve is based on historical trends and current relationships with the Company’s customers and providers. Changes in the Company’s collection rates can result from a number of factors, including turnover in personnel, changes in the payment policies or practices of payors, changes in industry rates or pace of reimbursement or changes in the financial health of the Company’s customers. As a result of past changes in Medicare reimbursement regulations, specifically changes to the qualification processes and reimbursement levels of consumer power wheelchairs and custom power wheelchairs, the business viability of several of the Company’s customers had become questionable and several have failed. Further, as National Competitive Bidding is implemented in additional areas, the number of start-up or new providers who have three-year contracted pricing will increase. The Company’s reserve for uncollectible receivables has fluctuated in the past and will continue to fluctuate in the future. Changes in rates of collection, even if they are small in absolute terms, could require the Company to increase its reserve for uncollectible receivables beyond its current level. The Company has reviewed the accounts receivables, including those receivables financed through DLL, associated with many of its customers that are most exposed to these issues. If the business viability of certain of the Company’s

customers deteriorates or the Company’s credit policies are ineffective in reducing the Company’s exposures to credit risk, additional increases in reserves for uncollectible accounts may be necessary, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial results.

The loss of the services of the Company’s key management and personnel could adversely affect its ability to operate the Company’s business.

The Company’s future success will depend, in part, upon the continued service of key managerial, research and development staff and sales and technical personnel. In addition, the Company’s future success will depend on its ability to continue to attract and retain other highly qualified personnel, including personnel experienced in quality systems and regulatory affairs. If the Company is not successful in retaining its current personnel or in hiring or retaining qualified personnel in the future, the Company’s business may be adversely affected. The Company’s future success depends, to a significant extent, on the abilities and efforts of its executive officers and other members of its management team. If the Company loses the services of any of its management team, the Company’s business may be adversely affected.

Certain provisions of the Company’s debt agreements, its charter documents, its shareholder rights plan and Ohio law could delay or prevent the sale or change in control of the Company.

Provisions of the Company’s debt agreements, its charter documents, its shareholder rights plan and Ohio law may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or attempt to acquire, control of the Company even if a change in control would result in the purchase of shares of the Company at a premium to market price. In addition, these provisions may limit the ability of shareholders of the Company to approve transactions that they may deem to be in their best interest.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not applicable.

Item 2. Properties.

The Company owns or leases its warehouses, offices and manufacturing facilities and believes that these facilities are well maintained, adequately insured and suitable for their present and intended uses. Information concerning certain leased facilities of the Company as of December 31, 2013 is set forth in Leases and Commitments in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company included in this report and in the table below:

In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is a defendant in a number of lawsuits, primarily product liability actions in which various plaintiffs seek damages for injuries allegedly caused by defective products. All of the product liability lawsuits that the Company faces in the United States have been referred to the Company's captive insurance company and/or excess insurance carriers while all non-U.S. lawsuits have been referred to the Company's commercial insurance carriers. All such lawsuits are generally contested vigorously. The coverage territory of the Company's insurance is worldwide with the exception of those countries with respect to which, at the time the product is sold for use or at the time a claim is made, the U.S. government has suspended or prohibited diplomatic or trade relations. Management does not believe that the outcome of any of these actions will have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business or financial condition.

In December 2012, the Company reached agreement with the FDA on the terms of the consent decree of injunction with respect to the Company's Corporate facility and its Taylor Street wheelchair manufacturing facility in Elyria, Ohio. A complaint and consent decree were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and on December 21, 2012, the Court approved the consent decree and it became effective. The consent decree limited the Company's manufacture and distribution of power and manual wheelchairs, wheelchair components and wheelchair sub-assemblies at or from its Taylor Street manufacturing facility. The decree also temporarily limited design activities related to wheelchairs and power beds that take place at the impacted Elyria, Ohio facilities. The Company is entitled to continue to produce from the Taylor Street manufacturing facility certain medically necessary wheelchairs provided that documentation and record-keeping requirements are followed, as well as ongoing replacement, service and repair of products already in use, under terms delineated in the consent decree. Under the terms of the consent decree, in order to resume full operations at the impacted facilities, the Company must successfully complete a third-party expert certification audit at the impacted Elyria facilities, which is comprised of three distinct reports that must be submitted to, and accepted by, the FDA. After the final certification report is submitted to the FDA, along with the Company’s own report as to its compliance as well as responses to any observations in the certification report, the FDA will perform an inspection of the Company's Corporate and Taylor Street facilities to determine whether they are in compliance with the Quality System Regulation (QSR). The FDA has the authority to inspect at any time. Once satisfied with the Company's compliance, the FDA will provide written notification that the Company is permitted to resume full operations at the impacted facilities.

During 2013, the Company completed the first two of the third-party expert certification audits, and the FDA found the results of both to be acceptable. In these reports, the third-party expert certified that the Company's equipment and process validation procedures and its design control systems are compliant with the FDA's QSR. As a result of the FDA's acceptance of the first certification report on May 13, 2013, the Taylor Street facility was able to resume supplying parts and components for the further manufacturing of medical devices at other Company facilities. The Company's receipt of the FDA's acceptance of the second certification report on July 15, 2013, resulted in the Company being able to resume design activities at the impacted facilities related to power wheelchairs and power beds. The third, most comprehensive third-party certification audit is a comprehensive review of the Company's compliance with the FDA's QSR at the impacted Elyria facilities.

During the final expert certification audit, the auditor indicated that some additional work was required primarily in the Company's updated complaint and risk review processes before the final, and most comprehensive, certification report could be completed and provided to the FDA, as the Company discussed in its December 23, 2013 press release. The Company has been executing its action plan relating to these comments, and the third-party expert returned at the end of February 2014 to re-commence this final certification audit.

The Company cannot predict the timing of the completion or the outcome of the third-party expert’s final certification report. After the expert's certification report is completed and submitted to the FDA, along with the Company’s own report related to its compliance status together with its responses to any observations in the certification report, the FDA is expected to inspect the Company's corporate and Taylor Street facilities to determine whether they are in compliance with the FDA's QSR. The FDA has

the authority to inspect these facilities at any time. If the FDA is satisfied with the Company's compliance, the FDA will provide written notification that the Company is permitted to resume full operations at the impacted facilities.

After resumption of full operations, the Company must undergo five years of audits by a third-party expert auditor to determine whether the facilities are in continuous compliance with FDA regulations and the consent decree. The auditor will inspect the corporate and Taylor Street facilities’ activities every six months in the first year following the resumption of full operations and then once every 12 months for the next four years.

Under the consent decree, the FDA has the authority to inspect the corporate and Taylor Street facilities at any time. The FDA also has the authority to order the Company to take a wide variety of actions if the FDA finds that the Company is not in compliance with the consent decree or FDA regulations, including requiring the Company to shut down all operations relating to Taylor Street products. The FDA can also order the Company to undertake a partial shutdown or a recall, issue a safety alert, public health advisory, or press release, or to take any other corrective action the FDA deems necessary with respect to Taylor Street products.

The FDA also has authority under the consent decree to assess liquidated damages of $15,000 per violation per day for any violations of the consent decree, FDA regulations or the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA may also assess liquidated damages for shipments of adulterated or misbranded devices, except as permitted by the consent decree, in the amount of twice the sale price of any such adulterated or misbranded device. The liquidated damages are capped at $7,000,000 for each calendar year. The liquidated damages are in addition to any other remedies otherwise available to the FDA, including civil money penalties.

For additional information regarding the consent decree, please see the following sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K: Item 1. Business - Government Regulation; Item 1A. Risk Factors; and Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Outlook and - Liquidity and Capital Resources.

As previously disclosed, in December 2010, the Company received a warning letter from the FDA related to quality system processes and procedures at the Company's Sanford, Florida facility. At the time of filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, this matter remains pending. See Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

On November 15, 2013, an amended complaint, in a lawsuit originally instituted on May 24, 2013, was filed against Invacare Corporation, Gerald B. Blouch and A. Malachi Mixon III in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleging that the defendants violated federal securities laws by failing to properly disclose the issues that the Company has faced with the FDA. The lawsuit seeks class certification and unspecified damages and attorneys' fees for purchasers of the Company's common shares between July 22, 2010 and December 7, 2011. This lawsuit has been referred to the Company's insurance carriers. The Company intends to vigorously defend this lawsuit.

On February 14, 2014, an amended complaint, in a lawsuit originally instituted on August 26, 2013, was filed against Invacare Corporation, Gerald B. Blouch, A. Malachi Mixon III and Patricia Stumpp, as well as outside directors Dale C. LaPorte, Michael F. Delaney and Charles S. Robb, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleging that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties and violated the Employment Retirement Security Act (ERISA) in the administration and maintenance of the Company stock fund in the Company’s Retirement Savings Plan (401(k) Plan). The lawsuit seeks class certification and unspecified damages and attorneys' fees for participants in the Company's stock fund of the 401(k) Plan between July 22, 2010 and the present. This lawsuit has been referred to the Company's insurance carriers. The Company intends to vigorously defend this lawsuit.

The Company received a subpoena in 2006 from the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) seeking documents relating to three longstanding and well-known promotional and rebate programs maintained by the Company. The Company believes that the programs described in the subpoena are in compliance with all applicable laws and the Company has cooperated fully with the government investigation. At the time of filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the subpoena remains pending; although the last communication with the DOJ was in 2007.

Additional information regarding our commitments and contingencies is included in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in Contingencies in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The following table sets forth the names of the executive officers of Invacare, each of whom serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, as well as certain other information.

Name

Age

Position

A. Malachi Mixon, III

73

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Gerald B. Blouch

67

President and Chief Executive Officer and Director

Robert K. Gudbranson

50

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Anthony C. LaPlaca

55

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Joseph B. Richey, II

77

President—Invacare Technologies Division, Senior Vice

President—Electronics and Design Engineering and Director

John M. Remmers

52

Senior Vice President—Global Supply Chain, Operations and Engineering

Louis F.J. Slangen**

66

Executive Vice President—Marketing and Chief Product Officer

Patricia A. Stumpp

52

Senior Vice President—Human Resources

________________________

*

The description of executive officers is included pursuant to Instruction 3 to Section (b) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K.

**

As reported by the Company in its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 27, 2014, Mr. Slangen will retire from the Company effective as of February 28, 2014, at which time his primary responsibilities with the Company will be assumed by John M. Remmers.

A. Malachi Mixon, III has been a director since 1979. Mr. Mixon served as Chief Executive Officer from 1979 through 2010 and as President until 1996. He has served as Chairman of the Board since 1983. Mr. Mixon serves on the Board of Directors of Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ), Cleveland, Ohio, a diversified manufacturing services and products holding company. Mr. Mixon serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, one of the world’s leading academic medical centers, and as Chairman of the Cleveland Institute of Music, a leading music conservatory.

Gerald B. Blouch has been President and a director of Invacare since November 1996. Effective January 1, 2011, Mr. Blouch became Chief Executive Officer of Invacare, after serving as interim Chief Executive Officer from April 2010 through December 2010. Mr. Blouch served as Chief Operating Officer from December 1994 through December 2010 and has served as Chairman—Invacare International since December 1993. Previously, Mr. Blouch was President—Homecare Division from March 1994 to December 1994 and Senior Vice President—Homecare Division from September 1992 to March 1994. Mr. Blouch served as Chief Financial Officer of Invacare from May 1990 to May 1993 and Treasurer of Invacare from March 1991 to May 1993.

Robert K. Gudbranson was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April 2008. From October 2005 until his appointment at Invacare, Mr. Gudbranson served as Vice President of Strategic Planning and Acquisitions at Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LECO), a $2.0 billion global manufacturer of welding, brazing and soldering products located in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to joining Lincoln Electric, Mr. Gudbranson served as Director of Business Development and Investor Relations at Invacare from June 2002 to October 2005. Mr. Gudbranson has also served as Invacare’s Assistant Treasurer and as the European Finance Director.

Anthony C. LaPlaca was appointed Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary effective January 2009. Previously, Mr. LaPlaca served as Vice President and General Counsel for six and a half years with Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a member of the Knorr-Bremse group, a supplier of commercial vehicle safety systems. Prior to that, he served as Vice President and General Counsel to Honeywell Transportation & Power Systems and General Counsel to Honeywell Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC.

John M. Remmers was appointed Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Operations in September 2010. In December 2012 his responsibilities were expanded to include engineering. From March 2007 until September 2010, Mr. Remmers was Executive Vice President and General Manager at TTI Floor Care where he was responsible for select business units, product marketing, engineering, operations and supply chain. Prior to that, he spent thirteen years with Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, where he served as the Sr. Vice President of New Product Development. Mr. Remmers holds a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and obtained his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Joseph B. Richey, II was named President—Invacare Technologies Division and Senior Vice President—Electronics and Design Engineering in September 1992. Previously, Mr. Richey was Senior Vice President of Product Development from July 1984 to September 1992 and Senior Vice President and General Manager of North American Operations from September 1989 to September 1992. Mr. Richey was a director of Invacare from 1980 until he retired from his director role in May 2013. Mr. Richey is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Case Western Reserve University and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Mr. Richey previously served on the Board of Directors of Steris Corporation from 1987 to July 2009.

Louis F. J. Slangen was named Executive Vice President—Marketing and Chief Product Officer in February 2012 and will retire from the Company effective as of February 28, 2014. Previously, Mr. Slangen served as Senior Vice President—Corporate Marketing and Chief Product Officer from September 2010 to February 2012; Senior Vice President—Global Market Development from June 2004 to September 2010; Senior Vice President—Sales & Marketing from December 1994 to June 2004 and from September 1989 to December 1994 was Vice President—Sales and Marketing. Mr. Slangen was also President—Rehab Division from March 1994 to December 1994 and Vice President and General Manager—Rehab Division from September 1992 to March 1994.

Patricia A. Stumpp has been the Senior Vice President—Human Resources since September 2009. Mrs. Stumpp joined Invacare in 1991 and was promoted to her current position in 2009. Previously, Mrs. Stumpp served as Director of Compensation & Benefits from January 2001 to August 2006 and as Director of the Human Resources Group from August 2006 until August 2009. She also has prior experience in healthcare, small business and the services industry. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and M.B.A. from The University of Toledo.

Invacare’s Common Shares, without par value, trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “IVC.” Ownership of the Company’s Class B Common Shares (which are not listed on NYSE) cannot be transferred, except, in general, to family members without first being converted into Common Shares. Class B Common Shares may be converted into Common Shares at any time on a share-for-share basis. The number of record holders of the Company Common Shares and Class B Common Shares at February 25, 2014 was 2,618 and 26, respectively. The closing sale price for the Common Shares on February 25, 2014 as reported by NYSE was $19.61. The prices set forth below do not include retail markups, markdowns or commissions.

The range of high and low quarterly prices of the Common Shares and dividends in each of the two most recent fiscal years were as follows:

2013

2012

High

Low

Cash Dividends

Declared

High

Low

Cash Dividends

Declared

Quarter Ended:

December 31

$

23.21

$

16.54

$

0.0125

$

16.45

$

12.98

$

0.0125

September 30

17.46

14.53

0.0125

17.15

13.37

0.0125

June 30

16.23

11.11

0.0125

16.54

14.21

0.0125

March 31

17.18

12.84

0.0125

17.94

15.49

0.0125

During 2013 and 2012, the Board of Directors also declared annualized dividends of $0.045 per Class B Common Share. For information regarding limitations on the payment of dividends in the Company loan and note agreements, see Long Term Debt in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report. The Common Shares are entitled to receive cash dividends at a rate of at least 110% of cash dividends paid on the Class B Common Shares. See Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources, regarding covenants in the Company's senior credit facility with respect to the payment of dividends.

The following graph compares the yearly cumulative total return on Invacare’s common shares against the yearly cumulative total return of the companies listed on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index, the Russell 2000 Stock Index and the S&P Healthcare Equipment & Supplies Index*.

The S&P Healthcare Equipment & Supplies Index is a capitalization-weighted average index comprised of health care companies in the S&P 500 Index.

The graph assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2008 in the common shares of Invacare Corporation, S&P 500 Index, Russell 2000 Index and the S&P Healthcare Equipment & Supplies Index, including reinvestment of dividends, through December 31, 2013.

The following table presents information with respect to repurchases of common shares made by the Company during the three months ended December 31, 2013.

Period

Total Number of

Shares Purchased (1)

Average Price

Paid Per Share

Total Number of Shares

Purchased as Part of

Publicly Announced

Plans or Programs

Maximum Number

of Shares That May Yet

Be Purchased Under

the Plans or Programs (2)

10/1/2013

-

10/31/13

—

$

—

—

2,453,978

11/1/2013

-

11/30/13

23,105

22.41

—

2,453,978

12/1/2013

-

12/31/13

—

—

—

2,453,978

Total

23,105

$

21.20

—

2,453,978

________________________

(1)

All 23,105 shares repurchased between November 1, 2013 and November 30, 2013 were surrendered to the Company by employees for minimum tax withholding purposes in conjunction with the vesting of restricted shares awarded to the employees under the Company’s 2003 Performance Plan.

(2)

In 2001, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase up to 2,000,000 Common Shares, excluding any shares acquired from employees or directors as a result of the exercise of options or vesting of restricted shares pursuant to the Company’s performance plans. The Board of Directors reaffirmed its authorization of this repurchase program on November 5, 2010, and on August 17, 2011 authorized an additional 2,046,500 shares for repurchase under the plan. To date, the Company has purchased 1,592,522 shares under this program, with authorization remaining to purchase 2,453,978 shares. The Company did not purchase any shares pursuant to this Board authorized program during 2013.

The equity compensation plan information required under Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the information under the caption "Equity Compensation Plan Information" in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

The selected consolidated financial data set forth below with respect to the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and shareholders’ equity for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, and the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and shareholders’ equity data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 and consolidated balance sheet data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are derived from the Company’s previously filed Consolidated Financial Statements. The data set forth below should be read in conjunction with Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The Balance Sheet, Other Data and Key Ratios reflect the impact of discontinued operations to the extent included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Reflects charges related to restructuring from continuing operations of $9,336,000 ($7,493,000 after-tax expense or $0.23 per share assuming dilution), incremental warranty expense of $7,264,000 ($7,170,000 after-tax expense or $0.22 per share assuming dilution related to the power wheelchair joystick recall) and the positive impact of an intraperiod tax allocation associated with discontinued operations of $1,220,000 or $0.04 per share assuming dilution.

**

Reflects charges related to restructuring from continuing operations of $11,395,000 ($11,255,000 after-tax expense or $0.36 per share assuming dilution), a discrete 2012 tax expense related to prior years of $9,336,000 or $0.30 per share assuming dilution which is a non-cash charge in 2012 for a matter that is under audit and being contested by the Company, early debt extinguishment charges of $312,000 ($312,000 after-tax expense or $0.01 per share assuming dilution) and the positive impact of an intraperiod tax allocation associated with discontinued operations of $7,126,000 or $0.23 per share assuming dilution.

***

Reflects asset write-downs for goodwill and intangibles of $49,480,000 ($48,719,000 after tax or $1.52 per share assuming dilution), loss on debt extinguishment including debt finance charges and associated fees of $24,200,000 ($24,200,000 after tax or $0.76 per share assuming dilution) as a result of the Company’s decision to extinguish higher interest rate debt, restructuring charge of $10,534,000 ($10,263,000 after tax or $0.32 per share assuming dilution) and a tax benefit in Germany of $4,947,000 ($4,947,000 after tax or $0.15 per share assuming dilution).

****

Reflects loss on debt extinguishment including debt finance charges and associated fees of $40,164,000 ($40,164,000 after tax or $1.23 per share assuming dilution) as a result of the Company’s decision to extinguish higher interest rate debt.

*****

Reflects restructuring charge of $4,804,000 ($4,124,000 after tax or $0.13 per share assuming dilution), loss on debt extinguishment including debt fees $2,878,000 ($2,878,000 after tax or $0.09 per share assuming dilution) and asset write-downs for intangibles and investments of $8,409,000 ($7,909,000 after tax or $0.25 per share assuming dilution).

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

OUTLOOK

Throughout 2013, the Company continued to make progress on demonstrating its quality systems improvements to its third-party expert auditor, and the Company received the FDA's acceptance of two of the three required third-party certification reports. In addition, the third-party expert auditor re-commenced the third and final certification audit at the end of February 2014.

The consent decree covers the corporate and Taylor Street facilities in Elyria, Ohio. It requires a third-party expert to perform three separate certification audits. In order to resume full operations, the expert certification audit reports must be submitted to the FDA for review and acceptance. In the first two audits in 2013, the third-party expert certified that the Company's equipment and process validation procedures and its design control systems were compliant with the FDA's Quality System Regulation (QSR). The Company has received the FDA's acceptance of these first two reports. During the final expert certification audit, the auditor indicated that some additional work was required primarily in the Company's updated complaint and risk review processes before the final, and most comprehensive, certification report could be completed and provided to the FDA, as the Company discussed in its December 23, 2013 press release. The Company has been executing its action plan relating to these comments, and the third-party expert auditor returned at the end of February 2014 to re-commence the final certification audit.

The Company cannot predict the timing of the completion or the outcome of the third-party expert’s final certification report. However, after the expert's certification report is completed and submitted to the FDA, along with the Company’s own report related to its compliance status together with its responses to any observations in the certification report, the FDA is expected to inspect the Company's corporate and Taylor Street facilities to determine whether they are in compliance with the FDA's QSR. The FDA has the authority to inspect these facilities at any time. If the FDA is satisfied with the Company's compliance, the FDA will provide written notification that the Company is permitted to resume full operations at the impacted facilities. The Company's top priority is to resume full production at its Taylor Street wheelchair manufacturing facility in Elyria, Ohio.

In 2014, the Company expects continued pressure on its organic net sales, cash flow and operating profitability for at least as long as the injunctive phase of the consent decrease is in place and related recovery period thereafter. The key drivers of these pressures include the limited net sales of power wheelchairs impacted by the consent decree, ongoing quality systems remediation costs, and the related diversion of resources, which has also impacted the Company’s ability to introduce new products. The net sales decline of power wheelchairs is impacted by the FDA consent decree, which limits the manufacture and distribution of power and manual wheelchairs at or from the Taylor Street manufacturing facility to products having properly completed verification of medical necessity (VMN) documentation. The VMN is a signed document from a clinician, and in some instances a physician, that certifies that the product is deemed medically necessary for a particular patient's condition, which cannot be adequately addressed by another manufacturer's product or which is a replacement of a patient's existing product. The Company is focused on completing its expert certification audits as quickly and efficiently as possible in order to resume full production at its Taylor Street wheelchair manufacturing facility in Elyria, Ohio.

The Company also is facing external challenges within its North America/HME segment. In addition to customers coping with prepayment reviews and post-payment audits of power mobility devices from Medicare and Medicaid, the Company continued to closely monitor the roll-out of the second round of National Competitive Bidding (NCB), which became effective in 91 additional metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) on July 1, 2013. The Company estimates that, for the full year of 2013, approximately $304,000,000 in net sales of its U.S. HME equipment business, the major division within the North America/HME segment, are products sold to homecare providers that are included in the competitive bidding product categories. When the Company's products are ordered by HME customers, the Company does not know if the products are then billed by the customer for Medicare, Medicaid or private pay reimbursement or sold as cash sales. However, industry studies have shown historically that approximately 40% of HME providers' revenues on average are from sales paid by Medicare. Additionally, it is estimated that round one and round two of NCB, which include a total of 100 metropolitan statistical areas, account for approximately 75% of Medicare's spending on durable medical equipment. Taking the $304,000,000 of U.S. HME net sales for the full year of 2013 of NCB bid categorized product and applying the previously mentioned 40% and then the 75% estimates, the Company's revenues from products potentially exposed to NCB could be approximately $91,000,000. This estimate does not include other potential pricing pressures that could also impact HME providers from other payors. At this early stage of the NCB program, the impact of NCB on net sales is hard to measure, as the Company does not have zip code level visibility into customers' sales, rental data or Medicare fulfillment data. However, excluding a large customer order of HomeFill® oxygen systems in the year, the Company estimates that net sales in the 91 impacted MSAs were slightly weaker than outside areas due to continued uncertainty as the industry realigns and adjusts itself to the small number of bid contracts awarded. The Company believes that the increase in sales of HomeFill® oxygen systems indicates that providers are actively seeking opportunities to reduce costs and transform their business model. The Company

continues to remain judicious in its extension of credit to customers in these areas. The Company has worked closely with providers over the last three years in preparation for NCB, offering programs to assist them in improving their operational efficiency, as well as offering products that serve to expand market opportunities. The Company believes that products such as the HomeFill® oxygen systems can enable providers an opportunity to reduce costs and transform their business model.

As described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal quarter and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, the Company had a net loss from continuing operations of $0.48 per share and $1.60 per share, respectively. These results are indicative of the pressures on the Company's net sales and margins that were present throughout 2013. The Company expects to continue to experience decreased net sales in the North America/HME segment until it has successfully completed the previously described third-party expert certification audit and FDA inspection and has received written notification from the FDA that the Company may resume full operations at its corporate and Taylor Street manufacturing facilities. For the North America/HME segment, total Mobility and Seating sales were $257,886,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $152,650,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013. However, not all the product lines included in these amounts were manufactured at the Taylor Street facility. The Company does not track net sales by production facility. Therefore, the Company has estimated net sales attributable to the Taylor Street facility by segregating the net sales for the North America/HME segment by business unit and product line and then estimating whether the product lines were sourced from the Taylor Street facility. Based on this methodology, the Company estimates that total net sales related to products produced at the Taylor Street facility were approximately $147,100,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $55,500,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013. Even after the Company receives the FDA notification that it may resume full operations at its Taylor Street facility, it is uncertain as to whether, or how quickly, the Company will be able to rebuild net sales to more typical historical levels, irrespective of market conditions. Accordingly, the Company expects that these challenges could negatively impact the Company's operating results in 2014.

See “Contingencies” in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and “Forward-Looking Statements” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On December 21, 2012, as part of the Company's globalization strategy, and to allow it to focus on its core equipment product lines, the Company entered into an agreement to sell ISG and determined on that date that the "held for sale" criteria of ASC 360-10-45-9 were met. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of ISG (long-lived asset disposal group) are shown at their carrying amounts, which were lower than the fair value as of December 31, 2012.

On January 18, 2013, the Company completed the sale of the ISG medical supplies business to AssuraMed, Inc. for a purchase price of $150,800,000 in cash. ISG had been operated on a stand-alone basis and reported as a reportable segment of the Company. The Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $59,402,000 in 2013 which represented the excess of the net sales price over the book value of the assets and liabilities of ISG, excluding cash. The sale of this business is dilutive to the Company's results. The Company utilized the proceeds from the sale to reduce debt outstanding under its revolving credit facility in the first quarter of 2013. The Company recorded expenses related to the sale of $5,350,000, of which $4,998,000 was paid as of December 31, 2013.

The assets and liabilities of ISG that were sold are shown as held for sale in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets and are comprised of the following (in thousands):

The net sales of the discontinued operation of ISG were $18,498,000, $341,606,000 and $299,491,000 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Earnings before income taxes for the discontinued operation of ISG were $402,000, $16,238,000 and $14,725,000 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company continues to sell products to the acquirer of ISG.

On January 17, 2014, the Company received a claim for approximately $1,352,000 from the acquirer of ISG. The claim alleges a breach of the purchase agreement, specifically that the inventories sold were not entirely useable or saleable in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes this claim is without merit and intends to contest this claim vigorously. As of the date of this filing, the Company is unable to estimate the outcome of this matter.

On August 6, 2013, the Company sold Champion, its domestic medical recliner business for dialysis clinics, to Champion Equity Holdings, LLC for $45,000,000 in cash, which was subject to final post-closing adjustments. Champion had been operated on a stand-alone basis and reported as part of the IPG segment of the Company. The Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $22,761,000 in the third quarter of 2013, which represents the excess of the net sales price over the book value of the assets and liabilities of Champion. The sale of this business is dilutive to the Company's results. The Company utilized the proceeds from the sale to reduce debt outstanding under its revolving credit facility in the third quarter of 2013. The Company recorded expenses related to the sale of $2,130,000, of which $1,499,000 was paid as of December 31, 2013. The gain recorded by the Company reflects the Company's estimated final purchase adjustments.

The assets and liabilities of Champion were the following as of the date of the sale, August 6, 2013, and as of December 31, 2012 (in thousands):

August 6, 2013

December 31, 2012

Trade receivables, net

$

3,030

$

2,375

Inventories, net

1,689

1,617

Other current assets

92

21

Property and Equipment, net

309

237

Goodwill

16,277

16,277

Assets sold

$

21,397

$

20,527

Accounts payable

$

936

$

475

Accrued expenses

352

318

Accrued income taxes

—

200

Liabilities sold

$

1,288

$

993

The net sales of the discontinued operation of Champion were $15,857,000, $22,767,000 and $19,209,000 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Earnings before income taxes for the discontinued operation of Champion were $3,156,000, $4,274,000 and $3,342,000, respectively. Results for Champion include an interest expense allocation from continuing operations to discontinued operations of $449,000, $792,000 and $853,000, respectively, as proceeds from the sale were required to be utilized to pay down debt. The interest allocation was based on the net proceeds assumed to pay down debt applying the Company's average interest rates for the periods presented.

In addition, in accordance with ASC 350, when a portion of a reporting entity that constitutes a business is disposed of, goodwill associated with that business should be included in the carrying amount of the net assets of the business sold in determining the gain or loss on the disposal. As such, the Company allocated additional goodwill of $16,205,000 to Champion from the continuing operations of the IPG segment based on the relative fair value of Champion as compared to the remaining IPG reporting unit.

The Company recorded an incremental intra-period tax allocation expense to discontinued operations in 2013 representing the cumulative intra-period allocation expense to discontinued operations.

The Company has classified ISG and Champion as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.

Unless otherwise noted, the following discussion of the Company and its segments exclude the discontinued operations of ISG and Champion.

Net Sales. Consolidated net sales for 2013decreased5.6% for the year, to $1,352,359,000 from $1,432,693,000 in 2012. Foreign currency translation increased net sales by 0.7 of a percentage point. Organic net sales decreased 6.3% as a result of increases for the European segment being offset by declines for all other segments.

North America/Home Medical Equipment (North America/HME)

North America/HME net sales decreased12.4% in 2013 versus the prior year to $607,094,000 from $692,657,000 with foreign currency translation decreasing net sales by 0.3 of a percentage point. The organic net sales decrease of 12.1% was primarily driven by declines in the mobility and seating and lifestyle products partially offset by increases in respiratory products. The increase in respiratory product was partially driven by a large order of HomeFill® oxygen systems by a national account which was fulfilled in 2013. The sales decline in mobility and seating products was primarily driven by the impact of the FDA consent decree, which limits sales of mobility products from the Taylor Street manufacturing facility to products having properly completed verification of medical necessity (VMN) documentation. The VMN is a signed document from a clinician, and in some instances a physician, that certifies that the product is deemed medically necessary for a particular patient's condition, which cannot be adequately addressed by another manufacturer's product or which is a replacement of the patient's existing product.

Institutional Products Group (IPG)

IPG net sales decreased11.2% in 2013 over the prior year to $112,290,000 from $126,508,000. Foreign currency translation had no material impact on net sales. The organic net sales decrease of 11.1% was driven primarily by declines in all product categories as a result of delay in new product introductions and higher volume in 2012 for interior design projects.

Europe

European net sales increased6.7% in 2013 compared to the prior year to $583,143,000 from $546,543,000 as foreign currency translation increased net sales by 2.3 percentage points. Organic net sales increased4.4 percentage points, principally due to increases in lifestyle and mobility and seating products partially offset by a decline in respiratory products.

Asia/Pacific

Asia/Pacific net sales decreased25.6% in 2013 from the prior year to $49,832,000 from $66,985,000. Foreign currency translation decreased net sales by 1.4 percentage points. Organic net sales decreased24.2%. The decline in the Company's subsidiary which produces microprocessor controllers was primarily related to its decision to exit the contract manufacturing business for companies outside of the healthcare industry, as well as reduced sales of electronic components for mobility products. The Company's Australian and New Zealand distribution businesses experienced a decline in net sales, primarily in lifestyle and mobility and seating products. Changes in exchange rates, particularly with the Euro and U.S. Dollar, have had, and may continue to have, a significant impact on sales in this segment.

Gross Profit. Consolidated gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 27.9% in 2013 as compared to 30.5% in 2012. The margin decline was principally related to reduced volumes, sales mix favoring lower margin product lines and lower margin customers and an incremental warranty expense related to a power wheelchair recall. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the Europe and IPG segments was favorable as compared to the prior year with North America/HME and Asia/Pacific segments unfavorable to the prior year. The 2013 gross margin reflects an incremental warranty expense for a power wheelchair joystick recall of $7,264,000 pre-tax, or 0.5 of a percentage point. The incremental warranty expense was recorded in the North America/HME and Asia/Pacific reporting segments. Thus far, the customer response to the joystick recall, which officially launched in October 2013, has surpassed the anticipated response rate, which was based on historic recalls, and accordingly the reserve was adjusted in the fourth quarter of 2013. The reserve is subject to adjustment as new developments change the Company's estimate of the total cost of this matter. The gross margin benefited by $1,389,000 or 0.1 of a percentage point, related to an amended Value Added Tax filing recognized in the European segment.

North America/HME gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased5.7 percentage points in 2013 from the prior year. The decline in margins was principally due to an unfavorable sales mix favoring lower margin customers and product lines and unfavorable absorption of fixed costs at the Taylor Street manufacturing facility as a result of reduced volumes resulting principally from the impact of the FDA consent decree. The 2013 decrease in gross margin reflects an incremental warranty expense for the power wheelchair joystick recall of $2,625,000 pre-tax or 0.4 of a percentage point.

IPG gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased2.5 percentage points in 2013 from the prior year. The increase in margin is primarily attributable to favorable product mix toward high margin products and reduced freight costs, partially offset by lower volumes.

Gross profit in Europe as a percentage of net sales increased1.1 percentage points in 2013 from the prior year. The increase was primarily a result of higher sales volumes as well as reduced purchasing and freight costs. Gross margin in 2013 also benefited by $1,389,000 or 0.2 of a percentage point, related to an amended value added tax (VAT) filing recognized in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Gross profit in Asia/Pacific as a percentage of net sales decreased16.1 percentage points in 2013 from the prior year. The decline was primarily as a result of the significant volume declines in each of the businesses in this segment, higher warranty expense and increased research and development expenses. The 2013 gross margin reflects an incremental warranty expense for the power wheelchair joystick recall of $4,639,000 pre-tax, or 9.3 percentage points.

Selling, General and Administrative. Consolidated selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses as a percentage of net sales were 29.7% in 2013 and 28.7% in 2012. The overall dollar decrease was $9,409,000, or 2.3%, with foreign currency translation increasing expenses by $1,613,000, or 0.4 of a percentage point. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, SG&A expenses decreased $11,022,000, or 2.7%. This decrease is primarily attributable to decreased regulatory and compliance costs related to quality systems improvements.

SG&A expenses for IPG increased by 2.5%, or $1,079,000, in 2013 compared to 2012 with foreign currency translation decreasing expense by $47,000, or 0.1 of a percentage point. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, SG&A expenses increased by $1,126,000, or 2.6%, primarily due to increased associate costs.

Asset write-downs to intangible assets. In accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, the Company reviews intangibles for impairment. As a result of the Company's 2013 intangible review, the Company recognized intangible write-down charges of $1,523,000 comprised of trademarks with indefinite lives impairment of $568,000, a trademark with a definite life impairment of $123,000, customer list impairment of $442,000 and developed technology impairment of $223,000 all recorded in the IPG segment and a customer list impairment of $167,000 recorded in the North America/HME segment. The after-tax and pre-tax impairment amounts were the same for each of the above impairments except for the indefinite-lived trademark impairments in the IPG segment, which were $496,000 after-tax.

In the 2012 intangible impairment review, the Company recognized intangible write-down charges of $773,000 comprised of: trademark with an indefinite life impairment of $279,000 and developed technology impairment of $398,000 in the IPG segment and a patent impairment of $96,000 in the North America/HME segment. The pre-tax and after-tax impairment amounts were the same for each of the above impairments except for the trademark impairment in the IPG segment, which was $204,000 after-tax.

Debt Finance Charges and Fees. There were no debt extinguishments in 2013. In 2012, the Company extinguished $500,000 in principal amount of its outstanding 4.125% convertible senior subordinated debentures due in February 2027. This early debt extinguishment resulted in debt fees and premium expenses of $312,000 comprised of $301,000 of premiums paid and losses recorded as a result of early debt extinguishment and $11,000 of expense related to deferred financing fee write-offs, which were previously capitalized.

All of the debt finance charges and fees in 2012 are included in the All Other segment.

Charge Related to Restructuring Activities. The Company's restructuring charges were necessitated primarily by continued declines in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement by the U.S. government, as well as similar healthcare reimbursement pressures abroad, which negatively affect the Company's customers (e.g. home health care providers) and continued pricing pressures faced by the Company as a result of outsourcing by competitors to lower cost locations. In addition, restructuring decisions were also the result of reduced profitability in the North America/HME segment impacted by the FDA consent decree. While the Company's restructuring efforts have been executed on a timely basis resulting in operating cost savings, the savings have been more than offset by continued margin decline, principally as a result of product mix, reduced volumes and regulatory and compliance costs related to quality system improvements which are unrelated to the restructuring actions. The Company expects any near-term cost savings from restructuring will be offset by the continued investment in regulatory and compliance costs related to quality system improvements at least until the Company has completed its quality systems remediation efforts, and reduced net sales in the North America/HME segment until it has successfully completed the previously described third-party expert certification audit and FDA inspection and has received written notification from the FDA that the Company may resume full operations.

Charges for the year ended December 31, 2013 totaled $9,336,000, including charges for severance ($8,282,000), lease termination costs ($698,000) and other miscellaneous charges ($356,000). Severance charges were primarily incurred in the North America/HME segment ($5,405,000), Europe segment ($1,640,000) and Asia/Pacific segment ($970,000). The charges were incurred as a result of the elimination of various positions as part of the Company's globalization initiatives. North America/HME segment severance was principally related to positions eliminated due to lost sales volumes resulting from the impact of the FDA consent decree. In Europe, severance was incurred for elimination of certain sales and supply chain positions. In Asia/Pacific, severance was principally incurred at the Company's subsidiary, which produces microprocessor controllers, as a result of the Company's decision in 2012 to cease the contract manufacturing business for companies outside of the healthcare industry. The lease termination costs were principally related to Australia as a result of the restructuring announced in 2012. The savings from these charges will be reflected primarily in reduced selling, general and administrative expenses and manufacturing expenses for the Company. Payments for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $11,844,000 and were funded with operating cash flows and the Company's revolving credit facility. The majority of the 2013 charges are expected to be paid out within the next twelve months.

Charges for the year ended December 31, 2012 totaled $11,395,000, including charges for severance ($6,775,000), lease termination costs ($1,725,000), building and asset write-downs, primarily related to the closure of the Hong, Denmark assembly facility, and other miscellaneous charges in Europe and Asia/Pacific ($2,404,000) and inventory write-offs ($491,000) in Asia/Pacific recorded in cost of products sold. Severance charges were primarily incurred in the North America/HME segment ($4,242,000), Asia/Pacific segment ($1,681,000) and Europe segment ($817,000). The charges were incurred as a result of the elimination of various positions as part of the Company's globalization initiatives. In addition, a portion of the North America/HME segment severance was related to positions eliminated, principally in sales and marketing as well as manufacturing, at the Company's Taylor Street facility as a result of the FDA consent decree. The savings from these charges will be reflected primarily in reduced selling, general and administrative expenses and manufacturing expenses for the Company. In Europe, positions were eliminated as a result of finalizing the exit from the manufacturing facility in Denmark and an elimination of a senior management position in Switzerland. In Asia/Pacific, at the end of October 2012, the Company's management approved a plan to restructure the Company's operations in this segment. In Australia, the Company consolidated offices / warehouses, decrease staffing and exited various activities while returning to a focus on distribution. At the Company's subsidiary, which produces microprocessor controllers, the Company decided to cease the contract manufacturing business for companies outside of the healthcare industry. Payments for the year ended December 31, 2012 were $9,381,000 and were funded with operating cash flows. The majority of the 2012 charges have now been paid out.

To date, the Company's liquidity has not been materially impacted; however, the Company's disclosure in Liquidity and Capital Resources highlights risks that could negatively impact the Company's liquidity. See also "Charges Related to Restructuring Activities" in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Interest. Interest expense decreased to $3,508,000 in 2013 from $8,240,000 in 2012, representing a 57.4%decrease. This decrease was attributable primarily to debt reduction during the year as proceeds from the sales of businesses were utilized to reduce debt. Interest income in 2013 was $384,000 as compared to $686,000 in 2012, primarily due to a reduction in volume of financing provided to customers.

Income Taxes. The Company had an effective tax rate of 33.0% in 2013 compared to an expected benefit of 35% on the continuing operations pre-tax loss and 294.3% in 2012 on pre-tax (loss) earnings from continuing operations. The Company's effective tax rate in 2013 was higher than the expected U.S. federal statutory rate due to the negative impact of the Company not being able to record tax benefits related to losses in countries which had tax valuation allowances for the year, except in the U.S. where a benefit of $1,220,000 was recognized as an intra-period allocation with discontinued operations, more than offsetting the benefit of foreign income taxed at rates below the U.S. statutory rate. The Company's effective tax rate in 2012 was higher than the expected U.S. federal statutory rate due to the negative impact of the Company not being able to record tax benefits related to

losses in countries which had tax valuation allowances for the year, except in the U.S. where a benefit of $7,126,000 was recognized as an intra-period allocation with discontinued operations, more than offsetting the benefit of foreign income taxed at rates below the U.S. statutory rate. The Company also recorded a foreign discrete tax adjustment of $9,336,000 including interest related to prior year periods under audit, which is being contested by the Company. In 2013, the Company's losses without benefit and valuation allowances existed in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and for 2012 also existed for Denmark. The Danish valuation allowance of $390,000 was reversed in 2013 due to a pattern of profitability. See “Income Taxes” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for more detail.

Research and Development. The Company continues to invest in research and development activities to maintain its competitive advantage. The Company dedicates funds to applied research activities to ensure that new and enhanced design concepts are available to its businesses. Research and development expenditures, which are included in costs of products sold, increased to $24,544,000 in 2013 from $24,459,000 in 2012. The expenditures, as a percentage of net sales, were 1.8% and 1.7% in 2013 and 2012, respectively.

2012 Versus 2011

Net Sales. Consolidated net sales for 2012decreased3.4% for the year, to $1,432,693,000 from $1,482,429,000 in 2011.Foreign currency translation decreased net sales 2.5 percentage points while an acquisition increased net sales by 1.1 percentage points. Organic net sales declined 2.0% which was driven by decreases in the North America/HME and Asia Pacific segments partially offset by increases in the Europe and IPG segments.

North America/Home Medical Equipment (North America/HME)

North America/HME net sales decreased 7.2% in 2012 versus the prior year to $692,657,000 from $746,782,000 in the prior year, with foreign currency translation decreasing net sales by 0.1 of a percentage point. The organic net sales decrease of 7.1% was driven by reductions in all three sales categories: mobility and seating, respiratory therapy and lifestyle products. The net sales in this segment were impacted by uncertainty related to the FDA consent decree and the lack of new products as a result of refocusing engineering resources on remediation related to the consent decree. In addition, in the second half of 2012 there were also external pressures on the Company's customers relating to the second round of National Competitive Bidding, as well as prepayment reviews and post-payment audits from Medicare and Medicaid.

European net sales increased 0.4% in 2012 to $546,543,000 from $544,537,000 in the prior year with foreign currency translation decreasing net sales by 6.6 percentage points. Organic net sales increased 7.0%, which was primarily attributable to increases in respiratory therapy products partially offset by declines in lifestyle and mobility and seating products.

Asia/Pacific

Asia/Pacific net sales decreased 22.3% in 2012 to $66,985,000 from $86,199,000 in the prior year. Foreign currency translation increased net sales by 0.7 of a percentage point. The organic net sales decline of 23.0% was driven primarily by volume declines in the Company's Australian and New Zealand distribution businesses as well as in the Company's subsidiary, which produces microprocessor controllers.

Gross Profit. Consolidated gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 30.5% in 2012 as compared to 32.0% in 2011. The margin decline was principally related to sales mix favoring lower margin product lines and lower margin customers, reduced volumes and increased research and development expenses partially offset by the benefit of the Company's 2011 acquisition of a rental business. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the IPG segment was favorable as compared to the prior year with North America/HME, European and Asia/Pacific segments unfavorable to the prior year.

North America/HME gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased by 2.0 percentage points in 2012 from the prior year. The decline in margins was principally due to an unfavorable sales mix favoring lower margin customers and product lines, reduced volumes and increased research and development expenses, primarily focused on FDA remediation.

IPG gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased2.1 percentage points in 2012 from the prior year. The increase in margin is primarily attributable to volume increases, the favorable impact from the rental acquisition, which was finalized in the fourth quarter of 2011 and reduced freight costs partially offset by increased research and development expenses. The increased research and development expenses for this segment include the costs of contracted engineering on negative pressure wound therapy products.

Gross profit in Europe as a percentage of net sales decreased1.9 percentage points in 2012 from the prior year. The decrease was primarily a result of unfavorable product mix toward lower margin product and lower margin customers and increased warranty expenses.

Gross profit in Asia/Pacific as a percentage of net sales decreased by 3.7 percentage points in 2012 from the prior year. The decline was primarily as a result of the significant volume declines in each of the businesses in this segment.

Selling, General and Administrative. Consolidated selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses as a percentage of net sales were 28.7% in 2012 and 26.5% in 2011. The overall dollar increase was $17,797,000, or 4.5%, with foreign currency translation decreasing expenses by $8,313,000, or 2.1 percentage points, and an acquisition increasing expenses by $10,263,000, or 2.6 percentage points. Excluding the acquisition and the impact of foreign currency translation, SG&A expenses increased $15,847,000 or 4.0%. This increase is primarily attributable to increased regulatory and compliance costs related to quality systems improvements of $22,757,000. Excluding an acquisition, the impact of foreign currency translation and the increased regulatory and compliance costs, SG&A expense decreased $6,910,000, or 1.8 percentage points, primarily as a result of reduced bad debt and associate costs.

SG&A expenses for IPG increased by 36.8%, or $11,642,000, in 2012 compared to 2011. Acquisitions increased SG&A expenses by 32.5 percentage points, or $10,263,000, while foreign currency translation decreased expense by $22,000, or 0.1 of a percentage point. Excluding the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency translation, SG&A expenses increased by $1,401,000, or 4.4%, due to increased associate costs, including commission expense and unfavorable currency transaction effects associated with the Canadian Dollar versus the U.S. Dollar.

Asset write-downs to goodwill and intangible assets. In the 2012 intangible impairment review, the Company recognized intangible write-down charges of $773,000 comprised of: trademark with an indefinite life impairment of $279,000 and developed technology impairment of $398,000, both in the IPG segment and a patent impairment of $96,000 in the North America/HME segment. The pre-tax and after-tax impairment amounts were the same for each of the above impairments except for the trademark impairment in the IPG segment, which was $204,000 after-tax.

In the 2011 intangible impairment review, the Company recognized intangible write-down charges of $1,761,000 comprised of customer list impairment of $625,000 in the IPG segment, customer list impairment of $508,000 in the North America/HME segment, indefinite-lived trademark impairment of $427,000 in the European segment and an intellectual property impairment of $201,000 in the Asia/Pacific segment. The pre-tax and after-tax impairment amounts were the same for each of the above impairments except for the indefinite-lived trademark impairment in the European segment, which was $320,000 after-tax. In addition, as a result of the Company's annual impairment test of goodwill, the Company recorded an impairment charge of

$39,729,000 ($39,729,000 after tax) in the Asia/Pacific segment as a result of reduced forecasted profitability and $7,990,000 ($7,336,000 after tax) in the North America/HME segment as a result of the impact from the FDA consent decree.

Debt Finance Charges and Fees. In 2012, the Company extinguished $500,000 in principal amount of its outstanding 4.125% convertible senior subordinated debentures due in February 2027. This early debt extinguishment resulted in debt fees and premium expenses of $312,000 comprised of $301,000 of premiums paid and losses recorded as a result of early debt extinguishment and $11,000 of expense related to deferred financing fee write-offs, which were previously capitalized.

In 2011, the Company extinguished $63,351,000 in principal amount of its outstanding 4.125% convertible senior subordinated debentures due in February 2027. This early debt extinguishment resulted in debt fees and premium expenses of $24,200,000 comprised of $22,646,000 of premiums paid and losses recorded as a result of early debt extinguishment and $1,554,000 of expenses related to deferred financing fee write-offs, which were previously capitalized.

All of the debt finance charges and fees in 2012 and 2011 are included in the All Other segment.

Charge Related to Restructuring Activities. Charges for the year ended December 31, 2012 totaled $11,395,000 including charges for severance ($6,775,000), lease termination costs ($1,725,000), building and asset write-downs, primarily related to the closure of the Hong, Denmark assembly facility, and other miscellaneous charges in Europe and Asia/Pacific ($2,404,000) and inventory write-offs ($491,000) in Asia/Pacific recorded in cost of products sold. Severance charges were primarily incurred in the North America/HME segment ($4,242,000), Asia/Pacific segment ($1,681,000) and Europe segment ($817,000). The charges were incurred as a result of the elimination of various positions as part of the Company's globalization initiatives. In addition, a portion of the North America/HME segment severance was related to positions eliminated, principally in sales and marketing as well as manufacturing, at the Company's Taylor Street facility as a result of the FDA consent decree. The savings from these charges will be reflected primarily in reduced selling, general and administrative expenses and manufacturing expenses for the Company. In Europe, positions were eliminated as a result of finalizing the exit from the manufacturing facility in Denmark and an elimination of a senior management position in Switzerland. In Asia/Pacific, at the end of October 2012, the Company's management approved a plan to restructure the Company's operations in this segment. In Australia, the Company consolidated offices / warehouses, decrease staffing and exited various activities while returning to a focus on distribution. At the Company's subsidiary, which produces microprocessor controllers, the Company decided to cease the contract manufacturing business for companies outside of the healthcare industry. Payments for the year ended December 31, 2012 were $9,381,000 and were funded with operating cash flows. The majority of the 2012 charges have now been paid out.

Charges for the year ended December 31, 2011 totaled $10,534,000 including charges for severance ($8,352,000), contract exit costs primarily related to the closure of the Hong, Denmark assembly facility ($1,788,000) and inventory write-offs ($277,000) recorded in cost of products sold and miscellaneous costs ($117,000). The majority of the 2011 North America/HME charges were incurred for severance, primarily at the corporate headquarters as the result of the elimination of various positions principally in sales and administration in Elyria, Ohio. These eliminations were permanent reductions in workforce which primarily resulted in reduced selling, general and administrative expenses. In Europe, the charges were the result of the closure of the Company's Hong, Denmark facility. The assembly activities were transferred to other Company facilities or outsourced to third parties. This closure enabled the Company to reduce fixed operating costs related to the facility and reduce headcount with the transfer of a portion of the production to other Company facilities. The 2011 charges have now been paid out and were funded with operating cash flows.

Interest. Interest expense decreased to $8,240,000 in 2012 from $10,106,000 in 2011, representing an 18.5%decrease. This decrease was attributable primarily to debt reduction during the year, and to a lesser extent, lower borrowing rates in 2012 as compared to 2011. Interest income in 2012 was $686,000 as compared to $1,213,000 in 2011, primarily due to a reduction in volume of financing provided to customers.

Income Taxes. The Company had an effective tax rate of 294.3% in 2012 and 74.4% in 2011 on earnings (loss) from continuing operations. The Company's effective tax rate in 2012 was higher than the expected U.S. federal statutory rate due to the negative impact of the Company not being able to record tax benefits related to losses in countries which had tax valuation allowances for the year, except in the US where a benefit of $7,126,000 was recognized as an intra-period allocation with discontinued operations, more than offsetting the benefit of foreign income taxed at rates below the U.S. statutory rate. The Company also recorded a foreign discrete tax adjustment of $9,336,000 including interest related to prior year periods under audit, which is being contested by the Company. The Company's effective tax rate in 2011 was higher than the expected U.S. federal statutory rate due to goodwill and intangible write-offs without tax benefit and the negative impact of the Company not being able to record tax benefits related to losses in countries which had tax valuation allowances for the year, which more than offset the benefit of foreign income taxed at rates below the U.S. statutory rate. In addition, during 2011, the Company recognized a $4,947,000 tax benefit as a result of a tax settlement in Germany as the German government agreed to follow a European Court

of Justice case and a German Tax Court case that impacted an open tax return year. In both years, the Company's losses without benefit and valuation allowances existed in the United States, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand. See “Income Taxes” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for more detail.

Research and Development. Research and development expenditures, which are included in costs of products sold, decreased to $24,459,000 in 2012 from $27,556,000 in 2011. The expenditures, as a percentage of net sales, were 1.7% and 1.9% in 2011 and 2010, respectively.

INFLATION

Although the Company cannot determine the precise effects of inflation, management believes that inflation does continue to have an influence on the cost of materials, salaries and benefits, utilities and outside services. The Company attempts to minimize or offset the effects through increased sales volumes, capital expenditure programs designed to improve productivity, alternative sourcing of material and other cost control measures.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company continues to maintain an adequate liquidity position through its unused bank lines of credit (see Long-Term Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report) and working capital management.

The Company's total debt outstanding, inclusive of the debt discount included in equity in accordance with FSB APB 14-1, decreased by $190,148,000 to $47,995,000 at December 31, 2013 from $238,143,000 as of December 31, 2012. The Company's balance sheet reflects the impact of ASC 470-20, which reduced debt and increased equity by $2,709,000 and $3,341,000 as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The debt discount decreased $632,000 during 2013, as a result of amortization of the convertible debt discount. The debt decrease during the year was principally the result of using the proceeds from the sale of ISG in the first quarter and Champion in the third quarter of 2013 to reduce debt outstanding under the Company's revolving credit facility. The Company's cash and cash equivalents were $29,785,000 at December 31, 2013, and decreased from $38,791,000 at December 31, 2012. At December 31, 2013, the Company had outstanding $28,109,000 on its revolving line of credit compared to $217,494,000 as of December 31, 2012.

During 2013, the Company's borrowing capacity and cash on hand were utilized for normal operations. Debt repurchases, acquisitions, divestitures, the timing of vendor payments, the granting of extended payment terms to significant national accounts and other activity can have a significant impact on the Company's cash flow and borrowings outstanding such that the debt reported at the end of a given period may be materially different than debt levels during a different given period. During 2013, the outstanding borrowings on the Company's revolving credit facility varied from a low of $28,100,000 to a high of $267,900,000. While the Company has cash balances in various jurisdictions around the world, there are no material restrictions regarding the use of such cash for dividends within the Company, loans or other purposes.

Senior Credit Facility.

Prior Credit Agreement. The Company's senior secured revolving credit agreement, (the “Credit Agreement”), as entered into on October 28, 2010, originally provided for a $400 million senior secured revolving credit facility maturing in October 2015. The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants that are customary for similar credit arrangements, including covenants relating to, among other things, financial reporting and notification, compliance with laws, preservation of existence, maintenance of books and records, use of proceeds, maintenance of properties and insurance, and limitations on liens, dispositions, issuance of debt, investments, payment of dividends, repurchases of capital stock, acquisitions, transactions with affiliates, and capital expenditures. There also are financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a maximum leverage ratio (consolidated funded indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA, each as defined in the Credit Agreement, as amended) and a minimum interest coverage ratio (consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest charges, each as defined in the Credit Agreement, as amended).

On May 30, 2013, the Company entered into a Fourth Amendment ("the Amendment") to its Credit Agreement. Pursuant to the Amendment, the Credit Agreement was amended to: (i) decrease the aggregate principal amount of the revolving credit facility to $250,000,000 from $400,000,000, and limit the Company's borrowings under the revolving credit facility to an amount not to exceed $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount through December 31, 2013; (ii) increase the maximum leverage ratio to 4.00 to 1.00 from 3.50 to 1.00 until January 1, 2014, when the maximum leverage ratio will revert back to 3.50 to 1.00; (iii) decrease the minimum interest coverage ratio to 3.00 to 1.00 from 3.50 to 1.00 until January 1, 2014, when the minimum interest coverage ratio will revert back to 3.50 to 1.00; (iv) in calculating consolidated EBITDA for purposes of determining the ratios, provide for the add back to consolidated EBITDA of up to an additional $15,000,000 for future one-time cash restructuring charges and (v) provide for an increase of (A) 25 basis points in the margin applicable to determining the interest rate on borrowings under the revolving credit facility and letter of credit fees and (B) 10 basis points in the commitment fee, all during periods when the

leverage ratio exceeds 3.50 to 1.00. The initial restructuring charge limitation of $15,000,000 for the life of the agreement was reached in the fourth quarter of 2012. Compliance with the ratios is tested at the end of the quarter in accordance with the Credit Agreement. As a result of the Amendment, the Company incurred $436,000 in fees in the second quarter of 2013 which were capitalized and are being amortized through October, 2015. In addition, as a result of reducing the capacity of the facility from $400,000,000 to $250,000,000, the Company wrote-off $1,216,000 in fees previously capitalized in the second quarter of 2013, which is reflected in the expense of the North America / HME segment.

The Credit Agreement also provides for the issuance of swing line loans. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company's election, at (i) the London Inter-Bank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin; or (ii) a Base Rate Option plus a margin. The applicable margin is currently 2.25% per annum for LIBOR loans and 1.25% for the Base Rate Option loans based on the Company's leverage ratio. In addition to interest, the Company is required to pay commitment fees on the unused portion of the Credit Agreement. The commitment fee rate is currently 0.35% per annum. Like the interest rate spreads, the commitment fee is subject to adjustment based on the Company's leverage ratio. The obligations of the borrowers under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of the Company's U.S. assets and are guaranteed by substantially all of the Company's material domestic and foreign subsidiaries.

During 2013, the Company completed the sale of its ISG business for net proceeds of $144,680,000 in cash and on August 6, 2013, the Company sold Champion, its domestic medical recliner business for dialysis clinics, for net proceeds of $42,872,000 in cash. The net proceeds from these divestitures were used to repay amounts outstanding under the credit facility and other current payables and thereby improve the Company's leverage ratio.

As of December 31, 2013, the Company's leverage ratio was 2.30 and the Company's interest coverage ratio was 7.51 compared to a leverage ratio of 2.66 and an interest coverage ratio of 19.00 as of December 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2013, the Company was in compliance with all covenant requirements and under the most restrictive covenant of the Company's borrowing arrangements, the Company had the capacity to borrow up to an additional $40,143,000.

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. On January 31, 2014, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among other things, provides for the following:

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An increase in the maximum leverage ratio for the first three quarters of 2014, with quarterly ratios, as described in the following table: